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until some time after the gynophore has reached the ground. The 
entire growth after the flower is formed is very rapid. If the fruit 
were first formed before a growth which pushed it under ground 
took place the chances for its safety would be much lessened.. The 
fleshy cotyledons are both nutritious and pleasant to the taste 
and the seed is a favorite with many animals. The foliage of the 
plant is itself rich in nutritient properties and it is known to enrich 
the soil when used as a fertilizing agent. 
If this were destroyed before the seeds were formed even after 
the ovaries were buried in the earth, the fruit could not perfect its 
growth unless provision were made whereby it could obtain and 
assimilate nourishment without the assistance of the leaves. Light 
is not necessary to the formation of proteids, and there is no reason 
to suppose that they may not be formed in an organ without 
leaves, if the necessary carbohydrates and nitrates are furnished. 
The pith and other parenchymatic cells of the gynophore are 
stored with starch, and nitrates are obtained through the hairs. 
Therefore it is possible that if a growing seed were suddenly cut 
off from its normal supply of food by the destruction of the foliage, 
it would still be able to obtain a sufficient quantity to ripen it from 
the supplies in the gynophore. - 
The results so far obtained can only be taken as indications in 
favor of the second of the two hypotheses before mentioned. It 
is believed that actual proof, either for or against this hypotheses, 
may be obtained by a series of physiological experiments. 
It is the intention of the writer of this paper to undertake such 
a series of experiments in the immediate future, believing that the 
results already obtained are such as to warrant the effort to carry 
the subject to a more satisfactory conclusion. 
Explanation of Plates. 
(PLATE 83.) 
Fig. A. Portion of longitudinal section through the ovary of a young bud, show- 
ing cells bordering the lower side of the cavity of the ovary. 
Diagramatic drawing of the same section; x-y corresponds with x-y in A. 
Portion of longitudinal section through the ovary of the flower showing the 
beginning of the gynophore growth. The rectangular appearance of the cavity of the 
ovary has already disappeared. (Compare with A.) 
