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Written for Burke’s Weekly. LESSONS IN BOTANY. BY AMATEUR. LESSON XV. Roots. is a Root? In common language it is that part of the plant which is below the sur face of the ground. What are the uses of Roots ? They are several : they serve as a support to hold the plant in an upright position ; they draw all the food of the plant from the ground; and they often serve as reservoirs in which is stored a great deal of nutriment for the future sup port of the plant. How are Roots divided? Into two classes—the Axial and the Inaxial. What are Axial Roots? Axial Roots are all those which grow down into the ground with a central axis, from which the roots are given off on all sides, as in the Pine. What are Inaxial Roots ? They are all roots which have no main stem, but break away into many roots at the sur face of the ground, as in Grasses, Oats, Wheat, etc. What are the kinds of Axial Roots? The Ilamose, Fusiform, Napiform and Conical. 'which descends into the ■id, giving off branches, and is lost in branches ; illustrated in Fig. 51. What is a Fusiform Root? One that is spindle-shaped—a fleshy root gradu ally tapering to the lower end, giving off small roots. Examples Beet, Radish ; illustrated in Fig. 52. What is a Napiform Root? It is a fleshy root, whose diameter exceeds its length, as the Turnip; illustrated in Fig. 53. What is a Conical Root? One which gradually tapers all the way from the surface of the ground to the lower end, as in the Carrot. The Fusiform swells out first at the top, and then tapers. What are the forms of Inaxial Roots? The Fibrous , the Fibro-tuberous, Cora line, Nodular , and Moniliform. What are Fibrous Roots ? They are numerous fine thread-like divisions or fibres arising directly from the base of the stem, as in the Grasses, Fig. 60. What are Fibro-tuberous Roots? The same as the Fibrous, only that more or less of the fibres are enlarged or fleshy, as in Fig. 55. What are Coraline Roots? Irregu larly branching roots, the branches fleshy, short and jointed, somewhat like a pile of stringed beads, as in Fig. 54. What are Nodular Roots? Roots which at irregular intervals have the fibres enlaiged or nodulated, as in Fig. 58. BURKE’S WEEKLY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. What is a Moniliform Root? The same, except that the enlargements are at regular distances, as in Fig. 57. What is a Tuberous Root? Any root is Tuberose, which has tubers at the end of the roots or rootlets, or which 51. 52. 53. 54. has but one at the base of the stem, as in Fig. 59. How do Roots draw nourishment from the ground? By means of nu merous small and very fine rootlets, 55, ' 56. 57. 58. called spongioles, which are the only part of the plant destitute of epidermis, except the Stigma. These spongioles are shown in Fig. 61. 59. 60. 61. What are the enlargements shown in Figs. 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 for? They are storehouses, we may say, in which the plant stores up starchy matter for the future support of the plant or its progeny. Note. —With this lesson will close the series. The writer is well aware that these lessons are far from perfect. But it is believed that if they have been well studied by any one, they will serve as a good introduction to the study of Botany. It would be utterly impossi ble in such a series of lessons, so to teach a pupil that without other aid he could analyse plants for himself; there fore the writer has never entertained such a thought. But he flatters him self, that but little more than is con tained in these lessons, will enable any one to commence analysis for himself. But Practical Analysis can only be learned among plants in the woods and fields. And the best advice that can be given to a beginner in Botany is to study it in the woods or with specimens before him. Written for Burke’s Weekly. Some Singular Pets. Shis is a true story I propose relating. It occurred in this neighborhood. There w’ere two sisters, Mollie and Sallie, who attended school at a house situated at the foot of a small mountain in a dense forest. As they neared the school-house one morning, little six year-old Sallie saw in a hollow tree two small ground rattlesnakes engaged in playing. She paused, pleased with their sports. The kindness of her heart prompted her to throw them some food from her school-basket. This she continued to do from day to day, until the little snakes watched for her presence with evident eagerness. At last they became so gentle, that they ventured to leave their stronghold, and would gambol around her in the most fearless manner. She now began to pet and caress them. They would run over her lap, and frisk about, showing the utmost appreciation of her affection and kindness. Mollie remonstrated with her sister, and threatened if she did not abandon her pets that she would inform her father. Sallie besought her so earnest ly not to inform against her, that Mollie consented to the secret a while longer. At last, fear for her sister’s called Sallie to him, and reasoned with her for some time, closing by telling her that she was liable at any time to be bitten by the snakes, and she might die from the effects of their bites. Their old nurse—a faithful mulatto servant —overheard her master say one day that he intended to kill the snakes. She rushed into his presence, and ex claimed : “Oh! master, don’t you kill Miss Sallie’s pets! if you do, some harm will come to the child; for they have charmed her. If you kill them, she will perish away like a shadow —some evil will surely befall her.” A little while after this, one of the school-boys killed one of the snakes. Sallie grieved greatly over the loss of it. Her affection now seemed to in crease for the remaining one. Her fa ther became really alarmed for her safety, and one morning he - secretly followed her to school. He saw her stop and have her usual play with her pet, and then go on with a gay, happy heart towards the school-house. He waited until she was out of sight, and then, with a sad heart, for the grief he knew he would cause his child, he killed the remaining pet. Years passed, and he kept the secret from his daughter, for he truly loved her, and did not wish to appear cruel in her eyes. Love for her safety alone prompted him to do the deed. No evil betel Sallie after the death of 197