OF TF1E COCOANUT DURING GERMINATION 353 



crown " ; sharply tapered to the point of surface penetration. The 

 fibers about the stem were tightly pressed together. The neck of 

 the absorbing organ was very woody and fibrous in character. 

 Absorption of the endosperm at the proximal end was quite 

 marked ; distal portion undiminished. Milk cavity largely filled by 

 the absorbing organ. A small space at the distal end remained, 

 containing viscid white material full of large oil globules ; quantity 

 less than lo c.c. — doubtless concentrated milk. It was strongly 

 acid in reaction from acid phosphate, reduced Fehling's solution, 

 gave only a faint biuret reaction and was free from starch. The 

 inner surface of the endosperm in the distal portion was soft, having 

 the consistency of lard. 



The weight of the whole shoot, minus the roots, in the fresh 

 condition was 28.1 grams. Dry, the weight was 4.25 grams or 

 1 5. 1 per cent, of the fresh substance, indicating a presence of 84.9 

 per cent, of water in the original plant. 



B. This nut, although germinating for the same period of time, 

 was not quite as far advanced as the previous one, having shoots 

 that were just emerging from the husk. The stem was thicker, 

 however. In most respects its internal condition was exactly the 

 same as that of the first. The fluid in the distal cavity was less in 

 quantity, not as turbid, contained less oil — otherwise was the same 

 as that of the previous nut. 



The weight of the entire plumule was 38.8 grams. Dried, 

 it weighed 5.75 grams. Thus it contained 14.8 per cent, of solid 

 matter and 85.2 per cent, of water. 



II. Afialyzed. — i. Growth continued for eight months. The 

 cotyledon entirely filled the cavity. About half of the endosperm 

 was absorbed ; practically all of that proximally except a thin 

 layer. The distal residue of endosperm appeared to be normal in 

 taste and appearance except on the surface, where the soft layer 

 previously referred to — one fourth the entire thickness — could 

 again be seen. The outer surface of the cotyledon, that part in 

 contact with the endosperm, was much corrugated ; the whole 

 organ, solid but spongy, sweet and agreeable to the taste, pyriform. 

 In the tables on pages 354 and 355 the results of our analyses for 

 this nut are indicated by the numeral i. 



