The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-04
WITNESSES OF GROWTH.
BY MARTHA MCCULLOUGH
WILLIAMS


WILLIAMS.
Growing things have a surprising
| chameleon quality. In proof take these
few examples: A small elm had its
tap-root exposed for perhaps three
feet by the crumbling of the gully
bank in which 1t grew. I.aterals run
ming back to firm earth held II up
right. In two years the exposed root
had thickened. got itself an armor OF
bark and become, to all intents a con-
tinuation OF the original trunk. At
the Joining there ran a sort of zigZag
cicatrice, very slightly swollen. New
lateral roots struck out in the gully
bed, old ones that had been left en-
tirely bare died and dropped off. but
those which kept a foothold in earth,
though bare for eighteen inches lived
and throve, covering themselves with
bark TO match the upper boughs.
An oak blown down, with a huge
clot OF earth upon its roots, changed
three parts of them to stubby branches
clothed with leaves. twigs, even now
and then acorns. These root boughs
sprang from bare roots. and though
Enthusiastically oaken were unlike the
sprouts about n stump. which, II left
to grow. form saplings and finally
finger clumps OF trees.
How easily and certainly stems
strike root let the myriad yearly cut
ungs abundantly prove. Anybody can
root cuttings say the folk who do not
know. Those who do know are not so
cock sure. Indeed they incline to the
Of haf
touch is poison. even II they do not
quite accept the countryside supersti-
| ton that tho touch OF a prospective
young mother has something Of magic
in It, and contrariwise q barren hand
means blight. However that may be,
here is an incident germane to the
point. Two women, one sweet and
| 20. the other co odd, made slips
of spent flower stalks from a specially
/ fine tea rose. To the casual eye there
was nothing to choose between the
lots-each had four as like as might
be in size, ripeness, joints. heels and
thrift The older woman carried her
gleanings possibly fifty yards; there
the young one took them and, keeping
them carefully separate, planted them
In small glass covered pit. Her own
four all rooted, grew and throve-
by next spring they were blooming
rarely. All the other four died. maxi
ing no other sign of growth, than an
ahortive budding from the least prom
islng. Yet there was nothing to
choose between the two lots in the
matters of soil. sunshine, and situation,
Except for the poison touch there was
not even unreasonable explanation
Science says sap rises in obedience,
rot to the vernal impulse, but the
suns increasing warmth. Yet maple
sugar makers know well that .wo
warm days in succession will all but
dam the flow OF sap, besides making
1t too thin and watery to be worth
boiling down. Two very cold days
have the same effect. with even skins
Of Ice and moons so sunny warm they
tempt wood violets into thoughts of
blossom.
A tree, like man, has its whole his
tory OF growth written in its heart
The heart records in scars the putting
forth OF every branch, the seattle OF
every wind shake or forest fire II has
known since 1t peeped above ground.
Young trees do not carry their early
branches up with them as they stretch
toward heaven. Instead they outgrow
them. True. now and again some spe-
cially favored branch persists, taking
so much to itself the end is a forked
trunk. But nine times In ten the early
branches, overshadowed by those
newer. more vigorous and fairer to the
sun, die and either fall, leaving a
quickly healed scar, or persist as sin
lister. iron-dark horns. pricking out
through the layers OF new wood which
eventually swallows them.
The bigger the tree heart the more
such scars and thorns it must show.
fierce in timber working much of the
heart wood has to be thrown away,