INTRODUCTORY LESSONS. xii 
in paragraph 6 do not clearly show 
their embryos in germination, but they 
are readily enough distinguished from 
dicotyledons. The downward growing 
sprouts are several instead of one, and 
the upward growing sprout is like a 
rolled grass leaf (Figs. 15 to 17). By 
tasting of the growing seeds you can 
discover what the starchy albumen is 
changed to before it is fit food for the | 
young plant. It must be remembered 
that only the grass-like monoctyledons 
grow as here represented. If possible, 
get Lily seeds, Iris seeds, etc. 
If you examine seeds and study mae cpap tale ee 
their growth as you have been directed, pueicato; ¢, the twisted and bent Neael by 
you will have the evidence of your own means of which it is able to travel to cracks- 
eyes that an embryo is a plant in 9 ™ ‘B® eroundand thus plant itself. 
sort of sleeping state from which it may be aroused to activity by moist- 
ure and warmth. It will be evident that the radicle is a stem; that 
the cotyledons correspond to leaves, and that the plumule is a bud 
from which is to grow all the above-ground portion of the plant. Re- 
member, that if these, or any other statements concerning the structure 
and behavior of plants, are not confirmed by your own judgment upon 
what you have yourself observed, they are useless to you, except as guides 
pointing to what you are to find. To memorize these statements of facts 
is to secure the husks, not the kernels, of knowledge. Plants themselves 
must teach you how they grow. The book can only show you how to 
question them and how to interpret their answers. Do not fail to care- 
fully compare the results of all your experiments; for in this way you 
can decide what are general or usual facts, and what are exceptional. 
The latter should be closely investigated, since it is probable that there 
is a reason for all unusual as well as usual behavior of plants. 
