300 ON THE MATURATION OF GRAIN 



cumulated much saccharine matter, which existed 

 there not previously during its growth. The 

 activity of vegetation has yielded up its energy to 

 invigorate the fructification now to take place. 

 And as all growth has ceased in the vegetating 

 organs, we may infer, that the wants of the grain, 

 from the period when fertilisation fecundates the 

 ovules, until full maturity succeeds, must be 

 mainly supplied from material already within the 

 fabrick of the plant, either stored up in its 

 tissues, or diffused throughout its juices, that it 

 may be ultimately carried up into the grain, and 

 expended in its formation and completion. 



If we are curious enough, and sufficiently 

 patient to follow thoroughly the processes which 

 are now going on in the plants, we shall be 

 enabled to see the reasons of the just mentioned 

 change. We shall perceive that the store of 

 saccharine fluid is directed upwards into the floral 

 integuments, and that they, excited by its influ- 

 ence, open and liberate the fructifying organs ; 

 and that these again excited by light, and sur- 

 charged with sugar, fecundate the ovules. And 

 so essentially necessary is this saccharine matter, 

 and so fearful is nature of a failure for want of 

 a sufficiency, that not merely is the free sugar 



