November, 1907 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



433 



change (Fig. 9). The position of the tiny plant is to be 

 made yet more secure by the production of a second pair of 

 adventitious roots. The sheaths make their appearance, the 

 root tips emerge therefrom and commence their journey 

 downward, carrying with them the same responsibilities and 

 vested with the same powers that we have seen manifested 

 by the three existing roots. Our baby plant now possesses a 

 root system comprising no less than five vigorous units, each 

 endowed with individual powers of selection, but all labor- 

 ing for the benefit of the one organism. 



It is now — when the second pair of adventitious roots are 

 well advanced (Fig. 10) — that the baby plant gains confi- 

 dence to commence the unfolding of its first leaf (Figs. 10 

 and 11). The tip of the plumule (which has now risen high 

 into the sunlit air) splits open, and the young leaf, deli- 

 cate and beautiful as a fairy thing, begins to emerge. Hour 

 by hour it reaches upward to the light; hour by hour the 

 faithful root tips burrow, like moles or miners, into the dark, 

 cold soil. Finally, there comes a quaint touch of nature 

 which seems to link the baby plant in some mysterious way 

 with the world of human thought and feeling. The first 

 leaf has almost emerged from the plumule, but it is not yet 

 perfectly expanded (Figs. 11 and 12). Is the infant organ- 

 ism hesitating? Does it mistrust Its own powers? 



Something of the kind would appear to be taking place, 

 for as the leaf commences to expand a sixth root sheath is 

 hastily formed at the base of the plumule, and a sixth adven- 

 titious root passes into the soil to augment the labors of its 

 five older brethren (Fig. 12). Thus, with the perfect 

 expansion of the first green leaf, and the production of 

 the sixth root, the birth of the wheat becomes an accom- 

 plished fact. 



Did space permit, it would be possible to trace the history 

 of the wheat from its birth to its fruitful maturity. The 

 first tiny leaf is already engaged upon that most marvelous 

 of all labors — the formation of living materials from the In- 

 animate elements of the earth and air. From Its Initial effort 



the plant will go from strength to strength. Many leaves 

 will be produced, to be crowned In due course by the flower- 

 head which, in its turn, will change to the full corn in the 

 ear — the manifold Increase of the solitary grain. The baby 

 root system, too, will undergo extensive elaboration, while 

 the leading root tips will penetrate deeply — perhaps six feer 

 — Into the soil in their ardent search after moisture. But a 

 bulky volume would scarcely afford too much space to deal 

 adequately with a subject of such profound Interest. 



In tracing the various stages which mark the progress of 

 the birth of the wheat, the infinite adaptability to circum- 

 stances possessed from the very outset by the developing 

 organism has, perforce, been kept somewhat in the back- 

 ground. It has seemed desirable to picture, as far as pos- 

 sible, a grain of wheat germinating under Ideal conditions, 

 in order that the laws governing the process may be clearly 

 understood. But this Impression of straightforward growth 

 must now be dispelled from the mind, for It is not, in point 

 of fact, correct. A grain of wheat, thrown upon the bare 

 furrow of the open field, and washed Into the soil by the rain, 

 Is surrounded by Innumerable particles varying in size from 

 sand grains to large stones. Among and around these the 

 root tips and the plumule must find their way, no matter how 

 tortuous that way may be. Moreover, it is exceedingly un- 

 likely that the grain will fall exactly in the position requisite 

 for straightforward growth; so that the root and the plumule 

 must turn to right or left, or even twist round the grain 

 Itself, In order to commence their respective upward and 

 downward courses. The marvelous sensitiveness of the root 

 tips makes them appear almost agile in their avoidance of 

 impenetrable obstacles, while the same, in less degree, applies 

 to the plumule. So that the baby wheat plant of a few days 

 old usually contrives to twist itself into a confused tangle 

 below the surface of the soil. A careful examination, how- 

 ever, will show that it has not departed In the smallest degree 

 from the principle of growth which the writer has en- 

 deavored to describe in the foregoing account. 



What is a Fireproof House? 



I HE term is somewhat relative, and it has 

 been and Is so much abused that people 

 have grown a trifle skeptical about it. Even 

 Intelligent architects have been known to 

 use a little wire lath on their partitions and 

 then with superlative effrontery call the 

 building "fireproof." A fireproof house is 

 one built not only of incombustible materials but in such a 

 way that even a conflagration will Inflict but the slightest 

 and most easily repaired damage; one in which fire can not 

 travel from point to point via the structural parts, and one 

 in which fire can be confined to some one unit of space or 

 room In which is originates, even though the entire interior 

 may contain much combustible furniture and fittings. 



Many materials while incombustible in themselves can be 

 very greatly damaged by fire. Thus it is with granite, marble, 

 stone, iron, concrete, glass, etc. These materials, if used, 

 and they all have their place, should be so arranged or pro- 

 tected that fire can not assail and damage them. The really 

 fireproof house is the one whose external walls are of well- 

 burnt brick and terra cotta ; whose roof Is of tile, metal, or 

 asbestos shingle; its floors and partitions should be of hollow 

 fireproofing tile; its windows where very near a neighbor or 

 exposed to narrow alleys should be metal sash and wired 

 glass; the stairways should in all cases be inclosed and with 

 self-closing doors at every story, thus absolutely cutting off 

 the several stories; the trimming and decorations, if marbles 



are beyond the reach of the individual, should be plastic 

 and colored decoration — avoid the wood wainscoting and 

 the "cedar celling" as you would the pestilence; then In fur- 

 nishing and decorating your houses go to the Japanese for 

 really sensible suggestions — put in the minimum of frills and 

 gew-gaws and finicky draperies; all those things are just like 

 so much tinder, the scratch of a match and phew ! there you 

 have a first-class fire on hand. 



If you still hanker for the pretty shingled effect on the 

 side of the house, use asbestos shingling, something that Is 

 not quite as good kindling as Is commonly used. But Is 

 there anything prettier than a dainty brick and stucco ex- 

 terior, for instance? In some localities it may be economy 

 to use some form of concrete construction Instead of tile for 

 floors and partitions. If you do so, let it be with fear and 

 trembling and much prayer. Good concrete work is not 

 combustible; it is damageable by fire; can be made eminently 

 satisfactory for ordinary house-building, but it is most difli- 

 cult to secure well-done work of that character. 



The beautiful open stair of our fathers Is one of the 

 surest means of conveying fire from one part of the house 

 to another. Avoid it. Inclose your stair In fireproof par- 

 titions. Apart from this fire question, did you ever stop 

 to think that this open stairway, while perhaps rather attrac- 

 tive to the eye, adds just about fifteen per cent, to your cares, 

 work and inconvenience? Altogether it Is a menace to life, 

 health, comfort and peace of mind. 



