own form or habit of root (Fig. 39). Carefully wash away the soil from the roots of any two related plants, as oats and wheat, and note the differences in size, depth, direction, mode of branching, number of fibrils, color, and other features. The character of the root system often governs the treatment that the farmer should give the soil in which the plant or crop grows.
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Fig. 39.—Roots of Barley at A and Corn at B.
Carefully trace the differences.
Roots differ not only in their form and habit, but also in color of tissue, character of bark or rind, and other features. It is excellent practice to try to identify different plants by means of their roots. Let each pupil bring to school two plants with the roots very carefully dug up, as cotton, corn, potato, bean, wheat, rye, timothy, pumpkin, clover, sweet pea, raspberry, strawberry, or other common plants.
Root Systems of Weeds.—Some weeds are pestiferous because they seed abundantly, and others because their underground parts run deep or far and are persistent. Make out the root systems in the six worst weeds in your locality.
