THE LIFE AND GROWTH OF SEEDLINGS 



the plant from the materials derived from the air and the water 

 taken in by the root. In certain types the cotyledons hardly 

 develop at all, the seedling deriving its food from the food-material 

 outside the embryo, as described in the buckwheat. 



3. The mode of development of the plumule to some extent 

 depends on the nature of the cotyledons. If these come above 

 the ground very soon, they carry the plumule with them ; but 

 when the cotyledons remain in the ground, the plumule has to 

 force its way through the soil, and it is very interesting to observe 

 how it does this. It should be noticed, too, that the growth of 

 the plumule does not take place until the radicle has reached a 

 considerable length, for the young plant must have a grip of the 

 soil before it can support the weight of a stem above the ground. 



GROWTH OF SEEDLINGS. In order to watch the growth of 

 seeds, plant four or five sets of different seeds in boxes at intervals 

 of about three days, so as to have seeds in different stages of 

 development at the same time. Radish, mustard and cress, 

 buckwheat, pea, bean, wheat, 

 barley, maize are some of the 

 best types. The patch where 

 each set of seeds is sown 

 should be labelled with the 

 name of the seed and the date 

 of sowing. As far as possible 

 they should be kept in the 

 same temperature. If the 

 seeds are sown early in March, 



the boxes should not be left FIG. 2. Seedling of radish, in three stages of 

 OUt at night On account Of development The horizontal lines mark 



- _ 1 r _ . J . the level of the soil. 



probable frosts, but it is as 



well to put them out during the day, provided they are not 

 exposed to too hot sun. A good mixture of soil is two parts 

 turfy loam, one part leaf-mould, half a part peat, and half a 

 part sand. 



In about ten days' or a fortnight's time from sowing the 

 seeds the cotyledons will be seen above the surface in the 

 patch of mustard or radish. Each seedling has two cotyledons. 



