64 GERMINATION 



The radicle was 6|-inches in length when straightened out 

 and carried very few root filaments, except at its extreme 

 end. 



The two halves of the seed are attached to the upper part 

 of the radicle by bands, which, I believe, are supposed to 

 be the stalks, as it were, of the cotyledons, the latter 

 extending along the centre of each half to the limit of the 

 seed. Personally, I think they assist in conveying current 

 to the seedling before the root filaments are numerous 

 enough to supply it. 



Comparison was made a few days later with an acorn 

 which had been planted — apex downwards — in the open 

 ground, in a South border, at the time the others were 

 potted. It exhibited some interesting features. 



f/gj/ 



There were two branch roots, 2|-inches and l|-inches 

 respectively, below the collar : the radicle was 7-inches in 

 length and the plumule had struggled only |-inch towards 

 the surface. Embryo leaf buds were in evidence and perhaps 

 helped the seedling to derive some benefit from air in the 

 soil. 



It was very noticeable that the overlapping of the collar 

 was closer and stronger than in the last example and I 

 concluded that a reason for this might be that the seed 



