CHAPTER III. 
Storage of Nourishment in the Seed. 
22, Nourishment in the Embryo. — Squash-seeds are not 
used for human food, since they have medicinal properties 
that maké them undesirable for that purpose, but beans and 
peas are important articles of food. Whether the material 
accumulated in the cotyledons is an aid to the growth of 
the young plant may be learned from 
a simple experiment. 
23. Experiment 7.* Are the Coty- 
ledons of a Pea of any Use to the Seedling ?1 
— Sprout several peas on blotting-paper. 
When the plumules appear, carefully cut 
away the cotyledons from some of the seeds. 
Place on a perforated cork, as shown in Fig. 7, 
one or two seedlings from which the cotyle- 
dons have been cut, and as many which have 
not been mutilated, and allow the caulicles 
to extend into the water. Let them grow 
for some days, or even weeks, and note 
results. 
Fic. 7.—Germinating Peas, 24, Experiment 8.2 Does the Amount 
growing in Water, one of Material in the Seed have anything to do 
deprived of its Cotyle- with the Rate of Growth of the Seedling ?— 
dons. ; 
Germinate ten or more clover-seeds, and 
«about the same number of peas, on moist blotting-paper under a bell jar. 
.\fter they are well sprouted, transfer both kinds of seeds to fine cotton 
netting, stretched across wide-mouthed jars nearly full of water. The 
roots should dip into the water, but the seeds must not do so. Allow the 
plants to grow until the peas are from 4 to 6 inches high. 
Some of the growth in each case depends on material 
1 The pea is used in a large number of the experiments here given, because it 
germinates at a comparatively low temperature, and the young seedlings are very 
hardy and thrive readily in the schoolroom. 
2 May be a home experiment. 
