6i 



upon the milk of its mother. The cotyledons, or young- leaves of the 

 plant, during- g^ermination absorb the endosperm, and remain within the 

 seed coat some time after the radicle has made its exit. When the 

 plantlet ceases to derive nourish- 

 ment from the mother seed, the 

 g-erminating- process is finished. 



The baby stag-e in the life- 

 story of the young- plant is passed. 

 It must now depend on its own 

 exertion to supply the necessaries 

 of life. For this purpose, the 

 radicle buries itself in the soil, 

 and sends out slender rootlets to 

 g-ather in the food found there. 



Fig. 84. Sugar Beet 

 at full tfrowth. 



o-rowmg- 



The plumule , or 

 point of the embryo, ascends 

 into the air, in order that it 

 may come under the direct 

 influence of the sunlight. As 

 the days pass, we notice new 

 leaves unfolding from the 

 plumule Why are these 

 leaves sent forth by the plant? 

 The leaves, like the root, are 

 food gatherers. They absorb 

 from the atmosphere sub- 

 stances which are necessary 

 to the formation of plant 

 food, and it is in the leaves that the manufacure or working over of those 

 materials obtained from the soil and from the air takes place. 



Fig. 82. Plantlet 

 with two leaves ex- 

 panded. 



Fig. 83. Showing immense development 

 of the root svstem of the beet. 



