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pose of a second seed-lobe ; the plume and radicle protrude 
from one end, but the former passes between the seed-lobe 
and the husk, till it reaches the other end, and then it pro- 
trudes itself into the soil. Hence, though the appearance 
of a germinating grain is that of the green leaf springing 
from one end, and the root from the other, yet when we 
strip the husk off, it is found that both have sprung from 
the same end, but the leaf had passed under the husk, pro- 
tected from the soil till it reached the opposite point. 
Now, is not this common process, this growth of a seed, 
a most admirable proof, first of divine wisdom, and next of 
divine power? Suppose for a moment, that seeds had not 
the useful propensity here adverted to, we would then rea- 
dily appreciate the vast advantage which would result, could 
the grain be but invested with it; but no human power 
could give the propensity ; no being but the Almighty could 
endue the seed with this uncontrollable disposition to erect 
the one part into air, and sink the other into earth; and, 
therefore, even in this so common process, we perceive the 
wisdom, the power, and the goodness of God ;—his wisdom 
to contrive, his power to complete the contrivance, and his 
benevolence in so doing. 
Why the seed-lobes of some plants should remain con- 
cealed in the ground, and those of others rise in the form 
of seed-leaves, we do not know. Neither, I believe, can 
it be expiained why some seeds have only one cotyledon, 
some two, and others more than two, as in the pine 
tribe. 
When moisture is admitted to barley and various other 
kinds of grain, and germination has, in consequetite, com- 
menced, a chemical change takes place, by which a quan- 
tity of sugar is produced, which seems to be the proper 
nourishment of the embryo plant; and it is this formation 
