CHAPTER II 



SEEDS AND THEIR GERMINATION 



Besides maintaining its own life, a plant's activity is directed 

 toward reproducing its like in the lives of others. One of the 

 most usual means of reproduction with which we are familiar 

 is the seed. Seeds may be very small, like those of orchids, 

 heaths, or Sfreptocarpus, or large, like the acorn and cocoa- 

 nut. In each seed there is a tiny plant, the embryo. Before 

 the parent plant sends her offspring out into the world to fend 

 for themselves, the seeds are well provided with a nicely fitting 

 coat and a generous supply of food, to serve them until they 

 are able to make their own. The pine seed is provided with 

 one thick hard coat, but most seeds have two, which fit so 

 closely that when the seeds shed their coats the two come off 

 together. 



When seeds are put into the soil and watered, the coats 

 begin to swell, if there is warmth enough. In the bean they 

 become wrinkled. As the water soaks in farther the rest of 

 the seed swells and fills the coat until it bursts, and the embryo 

 begins to make its way out. The seed is said to germinate. 

 This shows that the seed which was so hard and dry is alive. 



It was alive all the time, but did not grow. 

 What made it begin to show life ? 

 One of the simplest seeds to understand is the bean. It 



is an old and useful friend. In order to make out the different 



parts of seeds, it is well to compare them with some which have 



just begun germinating, for then the parts separate more easily. 



For this purpose seeds may be put into a box of clean sand. 



A biscuit-tin is good, but care should be taken first to make 



holes in the bottom to insure drainage. 



