Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-06
STUDIES OF ROOT LIFE.
Bureau Of Plant Industry Carrying on
Valuable Work.


The experts of the bureau Of plant
industry Of the agricultural depart
ment are getting at the roots Of the
matter. This Is literally true, for the
root experiments with plants are the
outcome Of study of the problems in
yolved in wide and shallow planting,
as opposed to close, ordinary planting.
In the former methods, a great root
development would enable the farmer
to do we'll with very little rain; in the
latter, his reliance is entirely on rain.
Experimenters have hitherto been
handicapped by the absence OF de-
vice properly to study root growth, but
this difficult has been overcome by A.
M. Ten Eyck a member Of the Dako-
Ia station, Mr.. Ten Eyck dug a trench
two feet wide about a block Of earth
in which were growing some plants,
the roots Of which he desired to study.
When the block stood out quite clearly
alone he made a light wooden frame
to fit around 1t and covered this with
common wire poultry netting. This
held the earth in place and enabled
him to pierce 1t through with small
wire rods, which were then fastened at
both ends to the netting. When enough
OF these thin wire rods had been run
through, to hold up the roots In case
the earth was washed away, he COW
cred the top Of the ground with a thin
plaster Of Paris paste, which soon dried
holding the plants he desired to exam
Inc firmly about the base.
The subsequent stages Of this pro-
cess, which has been adopted by the
bureau experts. involve the washing or
the earth from about the roots with
soft, warm water, leaving them Who'll
ly exposed and suspended upon the
wires which had been forced through
the earth. It becomes easy then to
lift the cage, with its plaster Of Paris
roof, holding the desired plants, to such
a place as desired for study. Care Is
taken to dig the surrounding trench
deep enough in the beginning to avoid
the possibility Of the roots being still
connected with the earth below.
The root experimenters have met
considerable difficulties. For one thing
the fine thread-like portions Of the
roots are destroyed at their extremi-
ties by the warm water washing. The
threads, however, at the points where
they ended, have been analyzed, and 1t
has been found that even at this early
stage Of the progress OF the nourish-
ment upward, the great chemical
work, the taking from the soil of lime'
sodium, nitrogen and the like had been
completed by the tiny filament. Some
where, a little further on In the soil
which had been washed away, the
work had been going on. 1t Is the
understanding Of this process which Is
now desired, and which is still appar-
entity as far off as ever.
Nevertheless, some valuable results
have already been attained. Naturally,
the investigations so far have concern
ed the plants most valuable to man
wheat and corn, potatoes, beans and
the like.
Roots" observed one Of the bureaus
investigators, seem to possess actual
sentence in regard to their search for
water. One Of the interesting and
valuable results Of this investigation Is
that now science can determine which
Of the plants are deep feeding, and
hence which are most suitable to dry,
insufficiently watered soils. For in
stance, a species Of wheat which had
the power to dig down six feet In Its
search fer food and moisture, would be
better adapted to the dry regions OF
the west than one that could dig but
four. There are certain species OF
wheat which do splendidly in naturally
soft, sandy soils, but whose roots are
too weak to dig through heavy soils.
This cannot be determined by simply
pulling up a stalk. 1t requires such
an investigation as this which the gov
ernment has inaugurated.
Another thing which has been prov
ed by the investigation Of root devel-
opment Is why land laid down to grass
Is made better 1t has long been known
that when the wild prairie Is first
broken the soil is mellow, moist and
rich, producing abundant crops. After
a few years Of continuous cultivation
the physical condition Of the soil
changes. The soil grains become finer,
which is bad; the soil becomes more
compact and heavier to handle; II
dries out quicker than 1t used to; 1t
balks worse and often turns over In
hard clods when ploughed. This COM
pact texture makes it difficult for the
young roots Of plants to develop prop
erly. 1t also causes an insufficient
supply Of air in the soil and makes 1t
sticky when wet, dusty when dry, so
that when loosened by the plough 1t Is
easily blown away. This is because
Il lacks roots of the right sort-stout,
hardy, deep reaching roots.