ACORNS 71 



Those two swellings are, 

 I suppose, the cotyledons. 

 If so, it is small wonder 

 they do not leave the seed 



and we can understand how Z^ ^ge .^ monf/jj 



it is that some embryos 

 occupy nearly the whole of 

 the interior of the seed. 

 The only thing that puzzles 

 me is Why there are said 

 to be leaves ! 



The seed was quite sound 

 and somewhat narrower than when potted but this was 

 probably due to the growth of the alleged cotyledons 

 raising the surface of each half about l/16th-inch. 



An interval of a fortnight elapsed before another examina- 

 tion was made, and then it was of a seed potted apex down- 

 wards. The seedling, although 9| months had intervened 

 was quite small ; the plumule, although bearing seven 

 leaves, being only 2/34ths-inch in height from the base of 

 the seed, and the radicle (extended) less than 5-inches from 

 the apex. Deprived of the seed coat the general appearance 

 was almost identical with that of the last sketch, saving 

 only that the seed substance was rather shrivelled and 

 coloured red around the edges. That is to say what we 

 have called swellings but which appear to be cotyledons 

 were white, while the rest was red. The cotyledons, if they 

 are cotyledons, were still more swollen and the collar more 

 pronounced. 



The seedling was quite healthy and particularly rich in 

 chlorophyll. What I am pondering is why any part of the 

 seed substance should be red, unless protection from short- 

 wave lengths had been called for. The superabundance of 

 chlorophyll is corroborative of this, but, on the other hand, 

 how can we suppose one pot to be more subject to light- 

 frequencies than another ? Unless, indeed, the soil had 

 been disturbed and a path opened. 



I had now only four pot-grown seedlings remaining and 



