HORSE-CHESTNUTS 89 



The following is a sketch of it : 



The plumule near its junction with the radicle was red — 

 probably because the seed had been near the surface of 

 the soil and required to be protected from actinic rays — 

 while the upper part was bright with chlorophyll. 



Note will be taken that what I called the collar of the 

 Acorn and Hazel Nut assumes here the form of a cup in 

 which the plumule sits. Later on it will be seen that this 

 is a continuation of the tough membrane covering the 

 radicle, connecting directly with the cotyledons within 

 the seed. 



With growth, rupture of the seed coat is, of course, 

 inevitable, and the insulating processes, the fibroid layer 

 and the inner membrane, meeting with the same fate, the 

 Leyden jar formation is broken up. All parts of the plant 

 other than, possibly the plumule, and certainly the leaf 

 buds, are now negatively electrified and there can be little 

 doubt that the cotyledons have a useful function in storing 

 if not in collecting current before sufficient root filaments are 

 formed to pick it up in quantity. There is also the question 

 whether during the earlier days of the seedling there is not 

 a synaptic junction between the posterior part of the 

 plumule and the interior part of the radicle. Both are 

 covered by a tough membrane and if such a synapse existed 

 the plumule would be positively charged and therefore 



