36 



ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



The nourishment for the young plant is not always 

 stored in the seed leaves as it is in the bean, -but often 

 surrounds the young plant, as in the corn seed, as shown 

 in Fig. 2. 



Fig. 2. — Grain of corn showing stages of germination : A, section of 

 ripe seed enlarged; /, seed-food, the portion that nourishes the young 

 plant; g. germ of seed. B, showing seed just sprouted; C, showing 

 sprouting further advanced. />, showing sprouting still further ad- 

 vanced ; young plant just showing above ground. (Original drawing 

 from photographs.) 



EXPERIMENT 



Fill an ordinary deep plate with sand or common soil, and 

 moisten it thoroughly with water. Then cut a piece of flannel 

 cloth just large enough to fit in the plate, and moisten thor- 

 oughly. Cover the soil with the damp flannel cloth, and over it 

 scatter the seeds to be tested. Cover with another piece of damp 

 cloth. Finally cover the whole with another plate, and set away 

 in a warm place, where the temperature is about 80°. Fig. 3 

 shows a cut of this arrangement. Keep the flannel and soil 

 damp but not wet; if too much water is added, the seeds will 

 rot. If the cloths are kept dry, the seeds will not sprout at all. 



