174 PRACTICAL BOTANY. 



XII. Spores of both kinds should be collected in 

 considerable quantity by drying on paper, and then be 

 sown on moist soil or sand, and left to germinate. In 

 a few weeks young seedlings will be seen with an erect 

 axis, bearing small leaves. The axis branches at an 

 early period. 



Remove one of these seedlings from the soil, and 

 note the bifurcations of the root, and the macrospore 

 still attached laterally to the axis. 



By careful comparison of spores thus sown, it may be observed 

 at various times during their development that the contents of 

 the microspores divide into a number of cells, and ultimately 

 rupture and set free antherozoids : also that the tissue of the 

 prothallus in the macrospore increases, rupturing the wall of 

 the spore, that archegonia are formed, from one of which the 

 young seedling originates: for further details the Text-books 

 must be consulted. 



