354 THE CHEMISTRY OF CREATION. 



virtue of its presence. Much, therefore, of 

 the success of the florist, and, on a larger 

 scale, of the agriculturist, depends upon this 

 simple and often forgotten condition of things. 

 The seed must have access to air. It is also 

 necessary that it should be surrounded by a 

 medium sufficiently but not too moist, and 

 that a moderate degree of warmth should exist 

 in the bed into which it is cast. It is a singular 

 fact also, that while the luminous rays of light 

 interfere with or even prevent this process, by 

 some discoveries of Mr. R. Hunt it appears 

 necessary that the actinic or chemical rays of 

 the solar light should reach the seed in order to 

 its germination. 



Placed in these favourable conditions, the 

 seed absorbs moisture from the soil and oxygen 

 from the air. A series of intricate chemical 

 changes is immediately commenced, the gluten 

 of the seed is altered, and its starch is con- 

 verted into sugar for the nutriment of the 

 young plant. Water and carbonic acid are also 

 formed during this process, and in a short time 

 the head of the young plant peeps above the 

 soil. 



Passing by the less important period of vege- 

 table infancy, we are led on to that far more 

 interesting time when the plant and the atmo- 

 sphere enter into new relations with each other, 



