236 THE CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



across through its thinnest part, an oval receptacle is found 

 in which is seen the germ surrounded by the starchy sub- 

 stance of the grain. Here the germ lies dormant, at the 

 disposal of certain agencies by which the principle of life 

 contained in it is awakened and brought into active exis- 

 tence. These agencies are moisture and heat. 



It has been shown that these two agencies, moisture and 

 heat, are necessary for the development of chemical action; 

 and the vitalizing of the living principle in the dormant 

 germ is due to this action. When the conditions necessary 

 to develop this required chemical action are effected, the 

 germ awakens from its slumber, puts forth its latent power, 

 starts into motion, and begins to form new cells by which 

 its substance is increased at the expense of the enveloping 

 matter, which is decomposed and absorbed. This process 

 is called germination. 



When a seed is placed in the soil and covered from the 

 light, it absorbs moisture. Unless the temperature is above 

 a certain point no action is developed; but when the tem- 

 perature reaches the right point which varies considerably 

 with different seeds, some of which will germinate in ice 

 and some require a heat equal to tnat of boiling water, oxy- 

 gen is absorbed, and the gluten is in part changed to dias- 

 tase, which is a peculiar substance not well understood as 

 yet, but w r hich has the property of changing starch to sugar. 

 One part of diastase is able to convert 2000 parts of starch 

 into sugar, and it is this substance which exists in the malt 

 or grown grain, that furnishes the agency for the conversion 

 of the barley or corn meal into sugar for the purposes of 

 brewing. This conversion of the starch of the seed into 

 sugar precedes the action of the embryo; for the germ can- 

 not increase its substance except from the matter absorbed 

 by it, and which furnishes the materials for building up 

 new cells. The germ now expands by the formation of new 

 cells, and pushes forth the radicle or root, which strikes into 

 the soil in search of nutriment; and the spire or stem, which 

 extends upwards into the air, where it puts forth leaves. 

 The plant now passes into a new stage of existence and be- 



