The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-02-14
a Charming Study
THarncr'a YouDor PaopIa


Most plants ara alike in having n
stems. and leaves, and some sort of 60
azd seed-vessel. But the parts look 50
different IN different plants that it is SC
times little hard to tell which is VIII
In some the roots grow In the air, ar
Others the stems grow underground.
only by studying what the parts do tn
Is possible to be sure what they are.
a,O@ important part of every living thing
8 As stomach, because everything that
lives must cat and drink OF
die There are some very curious
plants which have regular stomach:
into which their food goss Just as it doea in
an animal, and Is digeeted, bat these are
not very c0mmOn. Some day, however,
when you have learned little more about
simpler things, 1 mean 10 tell you some
thing about these strange plants. Ordinary
Plsnts have roots to supply them with food
and water i. me place Of stomach.
Let us study the roots Of some plant.
Almost anything will do. If you can do
50, get s kyRcInth glass and bulb. The
bulb is the root, and locks very much like
an onion; the glass is q vase made FOR the
purpose Of growing hyscinths in water.
It slopes in from the bottom upward, and
Chen bulges out suddenly. The bulb rests
IN shis bulgiag part, and has water below it
sid around its lower part. The glass being
ele6r, yOu can see the roots grow as plainly
a you can see leaf or flower bud unfold.
Perhaps you have nc hyscinth gisss, aud
can not gst one; then try to make one for
yourself out Of small glass jar. There
will eertsinly DO pickle bottle or pre-
serve jar sbOu. the house that will answer
perfectly we'll. All you want is to hsve
thu bulb ret half III and half out OF the
water, with room below for the roots TO
spread through the water. Be careful TO
keep the wster up TO the right msrk by adj
ding little evsry day as the plant sosks it
up
Or you may take dozen grains of seed
corn, SOAK them ovs: night, and tnen plant
them an inch deep IL bcx, having about
six inches or more depth of good earth. In
about three days the blade will coma above
ground Put your hand or q tTowel down
beside one of the plants, and scoop it gently
up Be sure you make your hand OF
tSowel 60 swsy down below where
tbs seed was planted, so % not
20 brEise the tender growth. Shake and
blow the dust away, and you sill zee sever.
Al Little white thresd-like roots coming from
tho grsin. II you take Up IN this way al
tho young plants, ono or two every day, you
will ses how they sprout and grow.
All these tiny roots have & cap over then
growing end, 20 that when they have tC
push their way among the hard earth and
stones, the growing part will not gel
bruised These roots take in all the wstol
and the food which the earth supplies to
che plant
The hyscinth csn grow in water alone
because it has been provident little body
azd stored away enough food in the little
round carpet-bsg of bulb to supply tie
Plsut for the 6rsL few weeks Of its life. II
only asks for the water it needs TO keep il
alive and groNing. When the thirsty little
roots have sucked up water enough, thG
bulb begins to grow Ill the other direction
IF yOa look, you will see d solid lump Of
pale green come up from the top like the
horns OF calf or bsby's tooth. This il
the Youg pant coming up out Of
It's dark cradle into the light and air and
sunshine. The delicate growing end Of the
planf, which will after while bear It's
beautiful spike of bells, is very tenderly
wrapped up in the leaves. After 1t gets
through the tough skin of the bulb, the
plant grows straight up. It stretches itseil
after its long sleep IL the sweet air and
light, the leaves lsngthen snd broaden and
open out. ard the stem with its little knob
by buds comes up in the midst. These viii
coon grow AID unfold into beauty and fra
GRANGE, and you will be rewarded for al
your long waiting, if watching the wonder
ful growth day by day has not carried 1T
own reward with it.