CHAPTER XLII 



Germination 



The germ in the seed seems to be sound 

 asleep, with its life arrested and suspended. 

 But by means of certain stimulating con- 

 ditions it wakes up, throws off its wrappings, 

 grows strong on its supply of food, unfolds its 

 first leaves and appears in the daylight. 

 This development of the seed is called germina- 

 tion. Moisture, heat and the air are the 

 causes that determine it. Without the help 

 of these the seeds would remain good for 

 sowing for a time, but would gradually waste 

 away and become incapable of germinating. 

 No seed can germinate without moisture. 

 Water plays many parts in the process. 

 In the first place, it saturates the germ and 

 the perisperm, causing them to swell more 

 than their envelope, so that this is forced to 

 break — even if it is a very hard shell. Through 

 the crevices of this broken envelope the 

 gemmule projects at one end and the radicle 



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