87 
We see some stems having small, thin, green 
leaves. 
Where are the fat seed leaves, filled with the 
baby food that keeps the plant alive? They are 
not in sight, certainly, so we must start a hunt 
for: them. 
If you will carefully remove the 
earth from about this little pea plant, 
you will soon find that the pea seed 
from which it is growing lies buried 
in the earth (Fig. 96). This pea seed, 
like that of the bean, is made up chief- 
FIG. 96 
ly of what really are two seed leaves, 
although in the case of the pea it may seem 
N | only as a matter of politeness that we give 
them the name of “leaves;” for in the pea 
V these seed leaves lie buried in the earth, 
i and split open just enough to allow the 
little pea plant to grow up into the air. 
But like the seed leaves of the bean, they 
are fat and full of food, and care for the 
young plant just as devotedly as did those 
of the bean. When this young plant needs 
them no more, like those of the bean, they 
die of starvation. 
Within the acorn, the seed leaves of the 
great oak tree grow together. These lie 
quietly in the acorn shell while sending out 
supplies of food to the root and stem and leaves of the 
young oak (Fig. 97). Walnut and chestnut leaves act 
much in the same manner. But these first leaves of the 
FIG. 97 
