JOURNAL 
OF 
The New York Botanical Garden 
Vor. I. aly, 1900. No. 7. 
THE SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS OF THE HEML OC, 
TSUGA CANADENSIS. 
The seeds of the hemlock are borne upon a rounded thick- 
ened scale which arises in the axil of a modified leaf. The latter 
ceases its development very early so that in the growing cone 
one must dissect apart the scales in order to find it at all. 
ripe each seed, two of which are produced on each scale, is pro- 
vided with a wing by which means a oe of them is made 
more effectual by the agency of the 
The first sign of germination, wich ie place in the hem- 
lock grove of the Garden about the middle of May, is seen in the 
protrusion of the rootlet of the embryo from the pointed end of 
eed. The internal end of the embryo, consisting principally 
of three or four seed leaves, remains embe 
cee tissue, known as the eae from which food is 
sorbed panes growth. (Fig. 19 
he root which idea in ne et stage of germination is 
provided with a very large root-cap, an organ which serves to 
dees the ieee tissue of the end of the root as it makes its 
y down through the soil. As the root-cap is worn away by 
Hee newer layers se tissue are produced, so that the wear is 
compensated for in this very effective way. The lengthening of 
the axis of the embryo lying below the cotyledons goes forward 
quite rapidly, the free end or root pushing its way downward in 
response to the stimulus of gravitation, an action spoken of as 
geotropism. When the root has gained a hold on the soil, the 
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