268 (ilJMPSES INTO PLANT-LIFE 



spot where it was obtained, and the date, will in 

 time form a pleasant memento of forest rambles, 

 and, probably, may lead to further studies of a 

 similar kind. 



To make the collection complete there should 

 be some seedlings of the other great division of 

 plants, namely, the plants with one seed-leaf 

 (monocotyledons). A few date-stones will supply 

 these specimens ; they should be sown in moist 

 earth and placed either in a greenhouse or on a 

 sunny window-ledge, where their growth can be 

 watched. 



Their germination is quite different from that of 

 the other seeds we have described, and if a number 

 of seeds are sown the different stages can be seen 

 as in the accompanying figure. 



One long cotyledon is pushed out from the seed, 

 the free end is like a sheath. The part nearest the 

 seed forms a structure resembling a rolled-up 

 stalk ; from the former roots are developed, whilst 

 from the rolled-up stalk or sheath grows the next 

 formed leaf, and each successive leaf is sheathed 

 like its predecessor. This arrangement can be 

 well seen in young growing grasses which can be 



