THE TREE GERM. 93 
vital part endowed with actual though latent life, 
and an inanimate part. The first part is the 
plantlet or embryo plant. The dead part is that 
which ministers to the embryo by providing it 
with food and shelter. Each of these two prin- 
cipal constituents of a seed are again divisible 
into parts, though the parts have the same general 
character as the whole, and are either living or 
dead. The latter—the dead parts—to speak of 
them first, are the seed-coverings, cases, or 
envelopes—the houses, or temporary abiding- 
places of the plantlets—and the secreted food of 
the latter. They are familiar to all persons, as 
envelopes, in the shell of the walnut and hazel-nut, 
and in the hard shining skin or case of the 
chestnut and acorn. The embryo coverings, or 
integuments, as botanists technically call them, 
are usually double. There is an outer integument 
called the testa, and an inner one called the 
tegmen. 
How beautiful as well as useful are the outer 
integuments of the seed is shown in their form 
and colour. Sometimes they are beautifully white 
and glossy, at other times of a shining ebon black. 
“ C 
