GERMINATION OF SEEDS 



FIG. 23. 



THE 



PLANT 



BREAKING 



OUT OF 

 THE 



SEED 



bears the seed-leaves, which are still imprisoned in the old 



seed-coat underground. However, the stem is steadily 



pulling this end out of the old seed-coat, 



and by a backing process it soon brings 



above ground both the fleshy seed-leaves 



and the tiny bud nestling between them. 



The seed-coat may have been left in the 



ground or may have been lifted out, 



still imprisoning the bud. Now the 



stem lifts its head, straightens its back, 



and if the seed-coat adheres, pushes it 



off by the growth of the bud. 



On the other hand, the garden or 

 English pea keeps its two seed-leaves underground 

 (Fig. 25), because the part of its stem that grows rapidly is 

 the part above the seed-leaves and between them and the 

 bud. The young pea stem also humps its back and pulls its 

 real leaves out of the soil backward. 



The seed-leaves of all these plants, whether coming 

 above ground like those of beans, cowpeas, squash, and 

 cotton, or remaining in the soil, serve to feed the young 

 plant before its own roots and leaves can support it. 

 At first these seed-leaves are thick, but as the food in 

 these pantries is given to the growing plant, the seed- 

 leaves shrivel and finally disappear. Since these seed- 

 leaves have to do a very different work from that done 

 by the later or true leaves, they naturally look very 

 different. 



Large seeds. The largest seeds usually make a quicker, 

 stronger growth and a larger yield than small or light 



