Root

403d

Roots

render both sides of it identical (see EQUA-
TION). In arithmetic, the square root is that
number which, multiplied by itself, produces
the given number; the cube root, the num-
ber which, multiplied into itself and then
into the product, produces the given cube;
so with fourth root, fifth root, etc.

Root, in Plants, is that part which absorbs
nourishment from the soil or from water. The
root ordinarily grows downward, and its
functions are the fixing of the plant in the
soil, and the extraction therefrom of solu-
tions of mineral salts and other food material,
which are passed on through the stem to
the leaves. As the leaf surface of a seed plant
is developed the root system grows; in a
large sunflower it occupies about one cubic
yard, in a large tree hundreds of cubic
yards. The primary root is merely the en-
larged radicle of the seedling: it is the direct
prolongation of the stem. All secondary roots
arise from this first root; the secondary roots
may give rise to others, and so on, until the
common much-branched root is formed.
When the primary root is much thicker than
the secondary roots it b called a tap root.
Roots are also described as fleshy (the beet
root), or as woody (the roots of trees).

Roots are usually buried in the soil, but
they may be aerial, as in the ivy; these arise
from the stem, and fix the plants to then*
supports. In the tropics many plants have
aerial roots; thus the mangrove forms forests
in the swamps. Aquatic plants often have
roots which do not penetrate into the mud,
but float freely in the water.

Root stock or Rhizome is the name given
to an underground stem that is easily dis-
tinguished from a root by the fact that it
ends in a bud, and bears leaves or scales.
In the autumn the aerial leaves die down,
but the rhizome lives through the winter, and
in the spring its terminal bud goes on grow-
ing. See PLANTS.

Root, EHhu (1845-1937), American lawyer
and public official, was born in Clinton, N, Y.
He practised law in New York, and made
rapid strides in his profession. He was coun-
sel for William M. Tweed in the celebrated
Tweed Ring trial; and for many great cor-
porations and railway companies. From 1881
to 1885 he was district attorney for the
southern district of New York.

In 1899 Elihu Root succeeded Russell A.
Alger as Secretary of War, and at once set
about reforming the Department. In 1904
he retired to the practice of law in New York
City; but in July, IQOJ,, upon the death of

John Hay, re-entered the Cabinet as Secre-
tary of State. In this office he did much
toward reorganizing the consular service and
improving the business methods of the De-
partment. In 1909 he was elected U, S. Sen-
ator, to succeed Thomas C. Platt, for th^
term ending in 1915. In 1912 he was perman-
ent chairman of the Republican Nationa1

Copyright Pack Bros.

Elihu Root.

Convention, and in 1916 candidate for the
Republican presidential nomination. The
Nobel Peace Prize of 1912 was awarded to
Root in recognition of his services for the
pacification of Cuba and the Philippines, and
his handling of various matters in dispute
between Japan and the United States. He
was trustee of the Cooper Union and Metro-
politan Museum of Art, director in several
companies, and held important offices in both
national and international bodies.

Root, George Frederick (1820-95),
American composer and organist, composed
some of the most popular songs of his time,,
notably 'The Battle Cry of Freedom/ 'Tramp,
Tramp, Tramp,' 'Just Before the Battle,
Mother,' and the quartet, 'There's Music in
the Air.'

Roots, Logan Herbert (1870), American