Originally Posted By: BranShea
To pull up by the roots.
What do you suggest could be pulled up by means of the roots?

That would be as SandyO suggested, grabbing hold of the roots to pull the plant out of the ground; difficult in the best of circumstances.

 Originally Posted By: BranShea
What do you suggest could be of interest in the vicinity of the roots?


What would be of interest in the vicinity of the roots would be that part of the stem closest to the ground; the point one usually goes to when trying to pull something up by the roots. The phrase sounds a little awkward to the modern ear but who knows what was common when the phrase originated?