GERMINATION. 9 



cucumber, squash or pumpkin, has interesting 

 peculiarities. The root makes its appearance 

 first and assumes the curved or arched form in 

 a similar manner to that of the bean. The 

 seed being Hat usually lies upon one side. 

 < )n the other side of the arch and quite close 

 to the small hole through which the root 

 makes it appearance, there is formed a pro- 

 tuberance. This protuberance catches the low- 

 er edge of the seed-coat and holds it firmly 

 against the soil. The cotyledons, still within 

 the seed-coat, are soon thrust upwards by the 

 curved form of the growing root ; this leads to 

 the splitting of the seed-coat into two halves 

 whereby the young plant is set free. It is 

 worth observing that the protuberance is only 

 formed on one side, and that, the under one ; 

 and if, when germination has proceeded to a 

 small extent, the seed be turned over so as to 

 bring the upper side to the underside then the 

 protuberance will form on the side which is 

 finally downwards. This will happen even if a 

 slight protuberance has begun to form before 

 the turning took place. 



11. In the instances of germination al- 

 ready referred to, the store of plant food is 

 placed in the cotyledons from which position 

 the food readily passes to the growing parts 



