Extension Work in Horticulture. 



557 



In order to find out why it is, we must ask the plant, and thia 

 asking is what we call an experiment. 



<P^^^ 



Germination 

 beginning. 



Just 



4. The root and 

 pes- 



6. 



The )ilant breaking 

 out of the seed. 



Third day of 



2. Squash plant ^ growth. 



which has 



brought the 



seed-coats out 



of the ground. 



We may first pull up the two plants. The first one (Fi^^ 1) 

 will be seen to have the seed still attached to the very lowest 

 part of the stalk below the soil, but the other plant has no seed 

 ^t that point. We will now plant more seeds, a dozen or more 

 of them, so that we shall have enough to examine two or three 

 times a day for several days. A day or two after the seeds are 

 planted, we shall find a little point or root-like portion breaking 

 out of the sharp end of the seed, as shown in Fig. 3. A day 

 later this root portion has grown to be as long as the seed itself 

 (Fig. .4), and it has turned directly downwards into the soil. But 

 there is another most curious thing about this germinating seed. 

 Just where the root is breaking out of the seed (shown at a iu 

 Fig. 4), there is a little peg or projection. In Fig. 5, about a day 

 later, the root has grown still longer, and this peg seems to be 

 forcing the seed apart. In Fig. 6, however, it will be seen that 

 the seed is really being forced apart by the stem or stalk above 

 the peg for this stem is now growing longer. The lower lobe 

 of the seed has caught upon the peg (seen at a. Fig. 6), and the 

 seed-leaves are trying to back out of the seed. Fig. 7, shows 

 the seed still a day later. The root has now produced many 

 branches and has thoroughly established itself in the soil. The 

 top is also growing rapidly and is still backing out of the seed, 

 and the seed coats are still firmly held by the obstinate peg. 



Whilst we have been seeing all these curious things in the 

 seeds which we have dug up, the plantlets which we have not 

 disturbed have been coming through the soil. If we wore to 



