SEEDLINGS, FOODSTORES AND GERMINATION. 85 



of Nelumbium more than 100 years old were able to 

 develop normally. It is even said {^Nature, Vol. LV., 

 1896, p. 21), that seeds from plants buried under 

 rubbish heaps collected by the Greeks have developed 

 and produced flowers, but one would like more evidence 

 before accepting the possibility of their having retained 

 life for 1500 years in a dry condition. During the 

 dormant period seeds are of course alive and breathe. 

 A kilogramme of seeds will in fact give off from 0.33 

 to 2000 mg. per hour. The amount varies with the 

 moisture of the atmosphere. 



The two essentials for the germination of seeds are 

 warmth and moisture. The embryo plant sucks in 

 moisture and swells, bursting its seed coats ; its cells 

 secrete a liquid ferment which acts upon the starches 

 and other matters, changing them into sugar ; this 

 last enters the seedling as fast as it is formed by 

 the ferment, and the embryo-plant soon appears 

 above the surface, and its ordinary leaves turn green 

 and expand. 



The way in which the seedlings develop shows much 

 variation. At this early stage of their existence the 

 plants are exposed to many dangers, and a very large 

 proportion of the seedlings are exterminated. Hence, 

 in many cases, much of the early development is carried 

 on below ground, and out of sight. 



In the Bean the two first seed leaves nearly fill the 

 seed, only leaving place for a very minute stem bud 

 or ''plzimule" between them and a short curved 

 '' I'adicle'' or young root along their edges. The two 

 seed leaves never make their way out of the seed 

 coat, but their food materials are digested whilst they 

 are still enclosed in it. The stem and root grow 

 outwards, but it is only after the latter is fairly long 



