CHAPTEK III. 

 VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY, 



IN ITS RELATIONS TO AGRICULTURK 



GERMINATION OP SEEDS. 



124. The well-matured seed contains in itself the 

 embryo of a new plant, together with food sufficient for 

 the young plant to feed upon, till it shall have had 

 time to thrust its roots into the soil, and its leaves into 

 the air, to draw thence nourishment for itself. 



125. This embryo, with its future food closely packed 

 around it, is so snugly encased, generally in a shell or 

 an oily skin, that it will remain dormant, like certain 

 animals in winter, but with undiminished vitality, till 

 the circumstances requisite for calling it into new life 

 are furnished. 



126. The embryo, being a perfect plant in miniature, 

 as shown by the microscope, has but to enlarge itself 

 in the directions already commenced, to become a 



