(il:kMI\.mO\ 



whole of our studies our attention has been drawn 



to no process so decj^ly interesting and )ct so 



mysterious as that of tlie breaking; into \\(e of the 



seed. There are three conditions that |)roniote the 



process of ijcrmination : warmth, moisture, and 



air. When these three 



conditions are present and 



the seed is health)', <^rowth 



bej^ins, and its first stage 



is the absor[)tion b)- the 



seed of moisture ; this, 



combined with warmtli 



and the oxygen of the air, 



sets up a change in the 



contents of the seed. We 



have alread)' seen that 



seeds are of a (ir\- and 



starch}- nature, aiul in this 



condition they are in- "' "■'"■'• '-^""<^" «>'-'"^^>>"f='^- 



soluble and unfit to be active plant food. The 



change that ensues results in this starch}- matter 



being converted into sugar which is soluble ; then 



the parts of the embr}o begin to unfold, first the 



radicle and finall}- the plumule are developed. 



