Why Do Plants and Trees Grow Up Instead of Down? As a matter of fact plants and trees do grow downward as well as up. There is a part of each called the root whose business it is to grow down and take certain things necessary to the life of the tree out of the ground. But the part we see above the ground and which is the part we generally think of only when we think of plants or trees. The tree or plant, in order to grow properly, and eventually produce flowers and perfect seeds, must have sunshine and carbonic acid gas, and it is the business of the leaves and other parts above the ground to get these out of the air for the good of the plant or tree. So they start to grow toward the sun. It is easy to prove how a plant will turn toward the light. Take notice of the plants in the flower pots at home. Set one of them on the window sill inside the window where the sun can shine on it and notice how quickly the leaves and branches will be bent over against the window pane. Turn it completely around then so that the plant leans away from the sunlight and watch it for a day or two. Before long you will find that it has not only straightened itself completely out but started to lean toward the window glass again so as to get as near the sun as possible. Most plants, if kept where the sunlight cannot touch them, will die. The sunlight is a necessary part of their lives. What Becomes of the Plants and Flowers in Winter? A great many, in fact the large percentage of plants, live only during one season. This kind of plant actually dies completely after, in the natural course of growth and flowering, it has produced its seed which is the method by which such plants are reproduced. Other plants only appear to die in the winter. Parts of them, such as the leaves and flowers actually die, but the roots and stalks of such plants do not die in winter. The part that represents the life in them goes to sleep and lies dormant until the light and warmth of summer bring forth the leaves and flowers again. The flowers, however, always die and the same flowers never appear again but others just like them appear in their places. Even in hot countries where there is no winter, the plants must go through a period of rest or sleep, although this change is not so marked in plants which grow in these hot countries. How Can Some Plants Climb a Smooth Wall?