37 



the germinating particle and another substance to 

 serve as the first nourishment of the plant, the fecula. 

 When the seed is exposed to moisture for a certain 

 time, the envelope is softened and the moisture 

 reaches the germ itself. Under the influence of this 

 moisture the germ swells and bursts the envelope, 

 the fecula is gradually transformed and is the first 

 nourishment of the germ, as milk is the first nourish- 

 ment of mammals. During this time, the germ 

 develops and the root shows itself and is soon 

 enabled to draw from the earth the nourishment 

 suitable to it. Two small leaves are then noticed 

 making their appearance and the root descends 

 vertically into the earth. When the two leaves 

 appear, the root has attained a length of about 

 2 inches. This root develops very rapidly arid soon, 

 after one or two weeks, the leaves are strong enough 

 to assist the growth of the plant by a sort of breathing 

 or respiration of the air. 



The influences necessary for germination are 

 air moisture and moderate heat. If one of these in- 

 fluences is absent the seed cannot germinate, or if 

 it germinates, vegetation languishes and the germ 

 will soon die. Thus you may keep the seed in dry 

 air and in any heat, without it ever germinating ; 

 a too low temperature prevents germination. For 

 as a seed can germinate in vacuo or in water, 

 although apparently deprived of air, it does so, be 

 causs water always contains to a greater or less 

 degree a certain quantity of air, and the vacuum 

 could not have been altogether absolute, so that a 



or xn 



