266 



(U.IMI'SKS IXTO I'LAM-LIFE 



perfect youn<y beech-leaves. This is all the baby- 

 tree can do the first year. We can distinguish the 

 second-\'ear seedlings by their woody stem, brown 

 leaf-scales, and silken-fringed )'oung beech-leaves. 

 We shall not find cot\'ledons on the young oak, 

 horse - chestnut, or sweet - 

 chestnut seedlings, because 

 these remain normally be- 

 low the ground (hypogean), 

 forming a storehouse of 

 nutriment for the young 

 tree. It is interesting to 

 watch the growth of an 

 acorn when placed in damp 

 moss in a saucer. After a 

 few weeks the acorn will 

 have absorbed water, and 

 the leathery seed-coat will 

 AcoKN. burst at the pointed end ; 



through this rent the radicle will protrude, fibres 

 will be found growing upon the root, the 

 tigelluni is thick, and just where the stalks of 

 the cotyledons are joined to it the jjlumule 

 emerges as from a sheath. The plumule is in 



