ECONOMIC PLANTS 183 



tion is that the first section of the stem forms just be- 

 low the surface of the ground, and fibrous roots grow 

 from the same point. The stem grows above the ground 

 and the leaves open in the air and light, whereupon 

 other roots form at the first joint of the stem, very near 

 the surface of the ground. These increase in number 

 and spread very rapidly. When the plant has enough 

 of these to hold it firmly in place, 'the section of the 

 stem below them and also the first roots formed die 

 and by their decay add humus to the soil. If a plant 

 of this family is vigorous, it will, in addition to the 

 secondary roots sent out, also develop a number of 

 stems at the first joint, thus making a multiple plant 

 with increased seed-bearing capacity. This latter 

 process is called stooling. Too deep planting hinders 

 stooling. Grain in rich, moist soil, if not too thickly 

 sown, will in cool weather stool rapidly and thus bring 

 a large yield from few seeds. 



Wheat is the most important food of the human 

 race, not that it is the most nutritious, for it is not, but 

 it is sufficiently so to make it, with its palatable qual- 

 ity, and the great variety of forms it can be made to 

 assume, the most desirable of the food stuffs. Waldo 

 Brown says : " In many respects wheat seems to be 

 the most important crop the farmers grow. Its 

 importance is due to the following facts : 



" 1st. It is a crop which always commands the cash, 

 and is always in demand. In speaking of the value of 

 other crops or of investments, it is a common expres- 

 sion with farmers that ' it is as good as old wheat in the 

 mill.' 



" 2d. It divides the work so that a single team can 

 do much more on a farm where wheat and corn are 



