OF THE COCOAXUT DURING GERMINATION 357 



drawn from the residual endosperm, this absorption beinj^ greatest 

 at the proximal end of the nut, where absorption was begun in the 

 first place, and least at the distal end, where it had hardly com- 

 menced. The roots also are seen to have absorbed considerable 

 moisture. 



The lowest part of the stem contains almost as little solid 

 matter and is nearly as watery as the cotyledon. The percentage 

 of water in the stem diminishes as the distance away from the " root 

 crown " increases. The watery condition of the lower part of the 

 stem is increased, doubtless, by the fact that the surrounding husk 

 is impregnated with water, thus favoring direct absorption by 

 osmosis and at the same time preventing evaporation from the sur- 

 face of the growing tissue. 



The amount of solid matter in the petioles is also compara- 

 tively slight, little more than in the lower part of the stem. In 

 the leaves the water is greatest in the youngest, as would be ex- 

 pected ; least in the oldest — those most exposed to the air. 



The roots at the tips are soft and watery, but the older they 

 become the more solid matter they develop and the more woody 

 material they accumulate. 



In the distribution of the inorganic matter in the fresh parts it is 

 noticeable that the portion of saline substance increases with a 

 decrease of water and vice versa, as in the cotyledon, in the residual 

 endosperm and throughout the plumule. This condition is such as 

 might be expected. The relation of the inorganic to the organic 

 matter in each part, however, is variable. The substance of the 

 cotyledon and the stem contains a greater portion of salts than 

 that of the endosperm and the leaves, the roots likewise holding 

 a fairly large amount of saline matter. The substance of the endo- 

 sperm contains least of all, from which fact it is quite clear that 

 the inorganic matter of the plumule has been absorbed, not only 

 by the cotyledon from the milk, but also by the roots from the 

 fluid in the husk and the surrounding earth. 



At the beginning of germination the inorganic matter and 

 water of the milk are doubtless sufficient for the changes that 

 occur, the organic matter coming chiefly from the endosperm. 

 Some time before the cotyledon fills the milk cavity and completely 

 absorbs the milk, the roots have begun to take water and inorganic 



