GROWTH OF SEEDS. 145 



common garden bean, the skin or husk of which 

 it is very easy to separate ; the two flat portions, 

 which form the greater part of the bean, being the 

 Cotyledons, with the little plant or Cor'culum be- 

 tween them. 



EDWARD. 



Must the seeds be quite ripe, before they can 

 grow ? 



MOTHER. 



Seeds that are not ripe very seldom grow; but 

 there are a few exceptions to this rule. Peas have 

 been known to germinate, even when put into the 

 earth in a green and soft state ; and the seed of a 

 lemon has been observed to shoot out a little ra- 

 dicle and plumula, even before it was taken from 

 the fruit. 



Some kinds of seeds take a much longer time to 

 germinate than others. Those of the grasses are 

 among the number whose seeds grow the quick- 

 est ; and the plants of the Rose-tribe are perhaps 

 the slowest. 



EDWARD. 



But if the seeds are not gathered when they are 

 ripe, what becomes of them ? 



MOTHER. 



Nature takes various methods to ensure their 

 being sown. The seeds of several plants, which 

 grow best in a peculiar soil, as of the A'rum, are 



L 



