THE PROPORTION OF PARTS IN FRUITS 309 



Comparison of the Proportions of Parts in Coco-nuts as 

 obtained by lupine and guppy. 



After allowing for variation in the proportion of parts in 

 coco-nuts of different localities, it is easy to recognise in the 

 young and ripe fruits of Lepine the green and ripe fruits of 

 my tables. In both sets there is a marked increase in the 

 absolute weight and in the relative amount of the kernel in 

 the green (young) and ripe fruits. M. Lepine's fruits were 

 evidently selected at random ; but it is to be noted that his 

 young fruit is about 50 per cent, heavier than his ripe fruit. 

 The question cannot be further discussed here, but it should be 

 added that the total amount of water in the coco-nut is dealt 

 with in Note 27 of the Appendix, and that the subject of the 

 embryo is treated in Chapter XVIII. 



As another example of those cases where the seed continues The case of 

 to increase in size and weight after the pericarp has ceased to (Quercus" 

 grow and is beginning to lose its vitality, I will take the fruit ^o'^"''), 

 of the Oak {Quercus Rohur). Here the subject is bound up 

 with that of the occasional vivipary of the acorn, or, in other 

 words, with its germination on the tree, a matter dealt with in 

 Chapter XIX, My observations were made at Salcombe in 

 Devonshire in the successive autumns of 1908-19 11. The 



