v1] ABOUT A FERN. 99 
their edges is the future root, and the ascending stem 
(P) with its embryo leaves lies between these two large 
fleshy leaves, or cotyledons (C, fig. 94), as botanists call 
them. The seed is therefore a sort of bud containing 
embryo stem and leaves, but a spore-is simply a little 
cell containing protoplasm, somewhat similar to those 
simple cells we described in our first chapter. It is 
impossible in a work like this to go into the scientific 
’ details respecting the relative value of a spore and a 
seed, but broadly it may be stated that a spore Is 
comparable to the pollen grain of a flowering plant. 
If we take a full-grown frond from a fern—looking 
out for one which has the under-surface ornamented 
by these brown or black dots—and shake it over a 
sheet of white paper, a very large number of tiny 
brown dots will fall on the paper. Now, if we care- 
fully transfer a few of these to a glass slip and place 
it under a low power of the microscope, we shall dis- 
cover these brown dots to be roundish oval cases of 
