30 



THE WHEAT CULTUIRIST. 



capsules, similai' to tlie magnilied spongiole represented 

 hj Fig. 5. 



The grand practical point for farmers to consider is 

 this: the capsules at the ends of the roots are thrust 

 through the soil like the point of a plough ; and the roots 

 are formed behind them. This teaches us the eminent 

 importance of assisting nature, by preparing a mellow 

 seed-bed, through which the roots may spread with little 

 difficulty. 



The Stem, oe PLr]yTXE. 



The illustration herewith given represents the ex- 

 tremity of the stem of wheat, highly magnified, as the 

 end appears when the wheat is coming up. Although 

 this illustration I'esembles a stack of hay or straw, it 

 exhibits the free capsule of cells and epidennic plasm^ 

 which are so nearly identical with those of the roots of 

 the same growing wheat plant. 



As soon as the plumule 

 cc has forced its way through 

 the soil, and appeared 

 ; above the surface of the 

 ground an inch or more 

 — J. H. Klippai't in his 

 5 VTheat Plant states — that 

 the stem gives bu'th to the 

 lii'st tme leaves, as seen 

 in Fig. 8 on a succeeding 

 page, while the central bud 

 is destined to become the 

 future stalk. There can be 

 no reasonable doubt that 

 the cellular envelop, A, B, performs a similar function 



