CHAPTER IV. 



STEUCTURE OF BARLEY AND SOME OTHER SEEDS. 



Almost at tlie commencement of our studies, rccader, 

 we had occasion, whilst watching the development of the 

 barley plant, to take particular notice of a minute body, 

 the emhryo, where we found vital activity first mani- 

 festing itself, after steeping the grain in cold water for a 

 few hours. 



A section of malt at that part of the grain in which 

 this embryo is lodged is given at Plate 5, fig. 9. At 5 

 are the cells composing the two seed-coats of the grain ; 

 at a the white mealy portion (albumen), the cells of 

 which have been freed from starch o-ranules in nourishing 

 the embryo ; e is the embryo. This now consists of three 

 folded leaves, in a rudimentary state, attached to a mass 

 of vegetable matter, in which lie the undeveloped stem 

 and rootlets. Horizontal sections of the embryo (figs. 

 10, 11), taken from above and below the centre of the 

 embryo, exhibit these parts of its structure very plainly. 



Looking at the outside of the base of the grain, on its 

 grooved surface there will be observed a minute, very 



