THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



217 



of the hypocotyl. A short distance back from the tip of 

 the root, small, velvety-looking hairs make their appear- 

 ance. The root hairs take up water containing nourish- 

 ment from the soil. The hypocotyl lengthens to near 

 the surface of the soil, where it forms a loop that breaks 

 the soil and lifts the cotyledons into the air. The seed 



FIG. 120. Germination of the Castor Bean 



leaves continue to give up their food to the young plant 

 for some time after they have been raised from the soil. 



Plant several rows of beans in a box. Beginning 

 the third day, take up one row each day for five days 

 in succession and study the development of the seed- 

 lings. Leave the last row until after the cotyledons 

 drop off. 



Germination of the castor bean. The castor bean has 

 a spongy portion, called the caruncle, which absorbs the 

 water taken in by the micropyle. The nourishment 

 stored up in the oily endosperm is absorbed by the thin 



