CHAPTER XLI 



The Grain of Wheat 



If we examine a seed of chickweed or ivy 

 that has been split open, where shall we find 

 the germ, or the little plant in its egg ? It 

 will be that small, slender, white object, 

 enclosed in the substance of the seed. That 

 of the chickweed takes up the whole length 

 of the seed, but that of the ivy is on one side 

 at the extremity. A fine line shows where 

 the two cotyledons, which are now closely 

 pressed together, will separate. This is the 

 situation of the tigella, ending in the radicle. 

 We notice how very small these cotyledons 

 are, how very different from the enormous 

 nursing leaves of the almond, the acorn, the 

 bean, or the pea. These poor breasts will 

 soon be dry, and if, when the seed awakens, 

 the ivy and the chickweed had no other 

 resource, they would soon starve to death. 



But we see that under the skin of the seed 

 there is an abundant floury substance, in 



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