THE BRITISH OAK. 35 



tions ill most botanical works will assist a beginner to 

 understand the various parts of the fruit. 



Acorns intended for planting should be left out of 

 doors during the winter. If they have been kept 

 indoors they should be soaked for several days in 

 water. A large flower-pot nearl}^ full of earth having 

 been prepared, six or eight acorns may be arranged on 

 the earth and a little loose earth sprinkled over them. 

 If this is done in ]\Iarch or April, healthy little plants 

 will be developed l)y July. The familiar acorn-glass 

 affords a pleasant way in which the growth of tlie root 

 and its fibres can be watched. 



The two divisions of the inner part of an acorn 

 are the cotyledons, which contain reserve materials 

 for the maintenaiice of the young plant. When 

 they absorb water the pericarp (or outer skin) 

 bursts at the pointed end, and tlie radicle pushes 

 its way out, bends downwards, and penetrates verti- 

 cally into the ground, becomes the root, and sends 

 out on all sides root-fi])res which pick up nourishment 

 from the soil. Meanwhile the plumule has appeared 

 from the same opening ; rising slowly and pointing 

 upwards, it becomes the stem of the future tree. It 

 grows from the part known as the hypocotyl, and 

 elongates into a slender stem upon which at first scale- 

 leaves appear. When it has attained about three inches 

 delicate-lobed foliage-leaves unfold. For some time the 

 plumule and the radicle draw their nourishment from 

 the cotyledons, which rapidly dissolve in order to 

 supply the demand. When wholly exhausted the coty- 

 ledons disintegrate and fall away from the hypocotyl. 



At the end of the first year the primary root Avill 

 have attained a length of about fifteen inches, and the 

 voung stem be about six inches hio-h. 



If it is desired to keep the little trees, they should 

 be removed from the pot and each replanted in a 

 separate pot or put in open ground. A most interest- 

 ing study may be enjoyed if one or two acorns each of 

 Q. pedunculata, Q. sessiliffora, Q. cerris, and Q. Ilex be 



