STORAGE OF FOOD IN THE CELLS 15 



which the cotyledons have been cut, and as many which have not 

 been mutilated, and 'allow the roots to extend into the water. Let 

 them grow for some days, or even weeks, and note results. 



16. Food stored in Seeds in Relation to Growth after 



Germination If two kinds of seeds of somewhat similar 



character, one kind large and the other small, are allowed 

 to germinate and grow side by side, some important infer- 

 ences may be drawn from their relative rate of growth. 



EXPERIMENT VI 1 



Does the Amount of Material in the Seed have anything to do with 

 the Rate of Growth of the Seedling ? Germinate ten or more 

 clover seeds, and about the same number of peas, on moist blotting 

 paper under a bell-jar. After they are well sprouted, transfer both 

 kinds of seeds to fine cotton netting, stretched across wide-mouthed 

 jars nearly full of water. The roots should dip into the water, but 

 the seeds must not do so. Allow the plants to grow until the peas 

 are from four to six inches high. 



Some of the growth in each case depends on material 

 gathered from the air and water, but most of it, during the 

 very early life of the plant, is due to the reserve material 

 stored in the seed. Where is it in 

 the seeds so far studied ? Proof ? 



17. Storage of Food outside of 

 the Embryo. In very many cases 

 the cotyledons contain little food, 



but there is a Supply of it Stored FIG. 5. Seeds with Endosperm, 

 , , , . , -1,1 Longitudinal Sections. 



in the seed beside or around them 



I, asparagus (magnified). 

 (FlgS. 2, 5, aild 6). II, poppy (magnified). 



18. Examination of the Four-o'clock Seed. Examine the exter- 

 nal surface of a seed 2 of the four-o'clock, and try the hardness of 



1 May be a home experiment. 2 Strictly speaking, a fruit. 



