12 



PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE 



an endosperm. Many seeds contain no endosperm; such 

 seeds have their food stored in the cotyledons. Squash 

 arid bean seeds have no endosperm. 



Germination of Seeds. If seeds are dry, they can remain 



alive for a long time, but 

 when they are moist, they 

 must either germinate, or 

 die and decay. A seed 

 can germinate only when 

 ir has moisture, air, and a 

 proper temperature. 

 Enough air is dissolved 

 in water to permit some 

 seeds to germinate if they 



v' are under water, but most 



seeds will decay if they 

 are kept there long. A 

 seed is more likely to 

 germinate in moderately 

 cool than in warm water. 

 Kinds of Seeds. There 

 are as many kinds of seeds as there are kinds of flower- 

 ing plants. Related plants usually have similar seeds 

 and fruit. All the plants whose seeds have one cotyledon 

 are called monocotyledons ; among these are rice, maize, 

 cane, gabi, abaca, and palms. Plants whose seeds con- 

 tain two cotyledons are called dicotyledons ; among these 

 are beans, squashes, tobacco, coffee, and many other 

 plants. Ferns are without seeds. The largest of all 



FIG. 10. Split coconut showing fruit coat, 

 or husk 



