A. MARTINELLI ON THE GEllMlNATION OF A SEED. 17 



cellulose ; just as a re-aiTangemeiit of tlie same letters produces 

 dififerent words and dissimilar ideas. It is from tliese atoms of 

 carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, particle by particle, the various 

 tissues of the plant are built. The solidification of the assimilated 

 material continues until the cotyledons are exhausted. The plant 

 has then sufficiently developed to decompose the carbonic acid gas 

 taken up with the water, and to build up its fabric from the carbon. 



Starch. Water. Dextrin. Grape sugar. 



These formulge illustrate the gradual conversion of starch into dextrin 

 and grape-sugar. Thus two molecules of starch and one of water pro- 

 duce one of dextrin and one of grape-sugar. 



JouiiN. Q. M. C, No. 42. 



