GYMNOSPERMS 



2647 



GYPSY 



and the like. Gymnastic exercises are one 

 phase of the general and harmonious training 

 of the physical organism which may be sum- 

 marized in the general term physical culture. 

 Some authorities use as a synonymous term 

 physical education. For a detailed discussion 

 of gymnastic exercises, with appropriate illus- 

 trations, see the article PHYSICAL CULTURE. 



GYMNOSPERMS, jim'no spermz, plants 

 which have naked or exposed seeds. All other 

 seed-bearing plants are angiosperms (which 

 see). The name gymnosperm is taken from 

 two Greek words meaning naked and seed. All 

 gymnosperms are trees or shrubs, and there 

 are over four hundred living species. Most of 

 them are evergreens and cone-bearing trees, 

 such as pines and firs, so to this class belong 

 some of the most valuable timber, tar, rosin 

 and turpentine producing trees of the world. 

 Pollination of gymnosperms is taken care of by 

 the wind, so they do not advertise to insects 

 with brightly hued blossoms. The flowers, or 

 cones, are of one sex, either male or female. 

 Cycads and the ginkgo are also gymnosperms. 



Related Subjects. The reader is referred to 

 the following articles in these volumes : 

 Cone-Bearing Trees Ginkgo 



Cycads Pollen and Pollination 



Evergreen 



GYPSUM, the mineral from which plaster of 

 Paris and alabaster are obtained (see PLASTER 

 OF PARIS; ALABASTER). It is a compound of 

 lime and sulphuric acid. Gypsum is found in 

 large beds which are supposed to have been 

 formed by the evaporation of water containing 

 it in solution. It is usually white or yellowish- 

 white, and is so soft that it can be scratched 



United States 

 2.4-75 



Canada 

 577 



France 



British Isles 

 317 



Figures Represent Thousands of Tons 



AVERAGE YEAR'S OUTPUT OF GYPSUM 

 Before the beginning of the War of the Nations 

 France nearly equaled the production of the en- 

 tire United States. 



by the finger nail. Sometimes a crystallized 

 variety known as selenite is found. The purest 

 crystals are transparent; they are long and 

 tapering, and usually are arranged in star- 

 shaped groups. 



When heated, gypsum is reduced to a fine, 

 white powder known as plaster of Paris. This 

 when mixed with water and exposed to the 

 air hardens quickly and is valuable for making 

 all sorts of casts. It is most extensively used, 

 however, for making the "putty coat" employed 

 in finishing plastered walls in buildings, and is 

 sometimes employed as a cement. Ground 

 gypsum is a valuable fertilizer on soils need- 

 ing lime (see FERTILIZER). Most of the "hard" 

 water from springs and wells contains gypsum 

 in solution. When the water is boiled some 

 of the gypsum collects on the sides and bottom 

 of the vessel, forming a white crust. Gypsum 

 is found in large quantities near Paris; in Not- 

 tinghamshire, England, and in Nova Scotia, 

 Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, New York and Virginia. 



GYPSY, jip'si, a name given to a group of 

 roaming people who are found in almost every 

 country and who differ to a greater or less 



TYPES OF GYPSY WOMEN 

 A characteristic of both sexes is a desire for 

 cheap jewelry and gaudy trinkets. Many of the 

 men wear rings in the ears. 



degree in appearance, speech and habits from 

 all other peoples. The origin of the Romani, 

 as they call themselves, is unknown, but they 

 are generally supposed to be the descendants 

 of some obscure Hindu tribe. They were 

 found in England for the first time about the 

 beginning of the sixteenth century. In appear- 

 ance the full-blooded gypsy, though rather 

 undersized, is often very attractive, with regu- 

 lar features, olive skin, very black hair, dark 

 and expressive eyes and extremely white teeth. 

 These physical characteristics are as marked 

 as are those of the Jewish people. Both men 

 and women lose their good looks early. 



