A very wise man once told me: Everyone should read the book by Plato. It
features Socrates in discussions with friends and others. Socrates is trying
to find a definition for justice. The famous cave analogy is in book seven.
Socrates makes the point over and over again that too many people use words
they do not understand. And further, most people do not even think about
what they are saying. Results: Confusion, misunderstandings, and wars!

Root Myths
Myths: Roots regenerate new roots, roots absorb nutrients, roots are all
shallow, roots are the most important part of a plant, roots have pith,
roots have heartwood, roots and stems are the same, roots have a green
cortex, roots have associations called mycorrhizae, roots absorb food, roots
are all below ground, roots on infant trees are the same as mature roots,
roots have flairs called root flairs, roots cannot live under pavements, all
roots absorb from the soil, over-pruning does not injure roots, roots do not
compartmentalize infections, roots are independent of the tops, you can
inoculate roots with mycorrhizae, root tips are called root hairs, only root
hairs absorb "food", roots go dormant in winter as the top does, roots have
buds, and probably many more! Is it any wonder trees have many problems!

--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.