FOREST BOTANY.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1923, Page 1

FOREST BOTANY.

At Cantcibury College on Tuesday, -Mr C. J'h Foweraker delivered the third of his series of lectures on For-

est Botany. The lecturer said he would deal with tile root. .First of all the function of the rout had to be considered. Only ceitnin substances weie absorbed from the sail. The greater part came from the air. A. root might he considered to consist of two main parts; the tap root and laterals. The laterals spread out when the soil was hard. A grass mid no distinct main root. It had a number of fibrous roots. Considering the structure of the rout, tie said, on the outside there were the mat bail's proceeding from the hair

zone. Within the root there was the cortex, and in the centre certain substances called wood and bast. The hair zone was gradually worn off as tile root developed. At the same time a. corky surface was produced. The bast was driven from the centre. The wood came to occupy tlu* whole of the centre of the vascular cylinder. The corky layer on the outside was made op ol regular, dead cells, and formed a protective surface to the root. Mr Fowerakor went on to consider the soil, which had a great effect on the ro.it. The soil was formed from the weakening of rock and front the decomposing of plants and other organic. substances. It consisted of mineral and animal substances, water and gases the mineral .substance contained potash. lime and phosphates. The speaker dealt also with the process of absorption, the osmosis process, i.e displayed some interesting lantern slides of the roots cl' the huttoi'-ciip. the pine, the bean ami the simllowor. lie also illustrated the effects of transplanting the Scots pine and pedunculate tree.