24 StTGAR BEET SEED. 



thin is exclusively found in the embryo. Starch, on 

 the other hand, is mainly contained in the perisperm. 

 The percentage, 2.26 of pentosane, calculated on the 

 bftsis of furfurol, is not absolutely invariable, as from 

 recent investigations it is shown that many substances 

 contained in the organism of plants, such as starch, 

 fructose, etc., also nitrogenous substances, such as 

 nuclein, etc., also supply furfurol. It is possible to 

 admit that the hemi-celluloses are found in the cotyle- 

 dons, which contain pentosane, also galacton. It 

 is claimed that this substance, during germination, 

 under the influence of diastasic fermentation, is changed 

 into galactose and arabinose. The mineral matter, as 

 determined by the analysis of beet-seed ashes, is mainly 

 combined with the organic substances in different parts 

 of the seed. Phosphoric acid is found in very 

 small quantities, and the same may be said of sulphur, 

 iron and magnesia. These four elements, phosphorus,^ 

 sulphur, iron and magnesia, are harmoniously united 

 and located in the embryo. On the other hand, it is 

 most difficult to determine the exact portion of the seed 

 where the protoplasm is to be found. Messrs. Westler 

 and Stoklasa say that all leads to the supposition that it 

 is not far from the carbohydrates; that is, in the peri- 

 sperm. The protoplasm of the Embryo, as soon as it 

 commences to show signs of life, secretes enzymes; 

 these have a certain action on the reserve plant food 

 and facilitate their assimilation by the protoplasm. The 

 assimilation and dissimulation go on very rapidly dur- 

 ing the first periods of germination, and reach a maxi- 

 mum on the fifth day, providing all the conditions of 

 heat, moisture and temperature are favorable. The 

 vital energy developed by the embryo during this stage 

 has apparently considerable influence on the formation 

 of certain nourishing substances upon which proto- 

 plasm depends. After this formation, the taking up of 

 organic combinations by the embryo ceases. 



