6EBMINATI0N OF TBE ONION 323 



392. All this behavior of the germinating squash 

 results in raising the foliage above the soil and 

 in keeping the seed -coats beneath it. But suppose 

 that the seed is not buried, but lies on the sur- 

 face of the moist earth or is covered only with 

 loose leaves or litter : then what happens ? Fill a 

 pot or box with earth up to half an inch below 

 the rim, lay fresh squash seeds upon it, cover the 

 pot with cardboard, and keep the seeds moist and 

 warm. Watch the result. 



Suggestions. — This experiment of germinating seeds upon the 

 surface is always an interesting one. Peas germinate in this way 

 very readily. Whenever this experiment is tried, other seeds of 

 the same kind should be planted in the normal way, for compara- 

 tive study. 



LXII. GERMINATION OF THE ONION 



393. A sprouting onion seed is" seen in Fig. 

 342. The process further developed is shown in 

 Fig. 343. The root is elongating from the 



point a, and a stem -like part is growing i||^f' 



above that point and is pushing the seed ^Bte 



upward towards the surface of the ground. .^^R 



394. The loop which is beginning to '^^M 

 form in Fig. 343 has greatly developed fig. 342. 

 in Fig. 344, and the tip of it has reached spvout- 



ing onion 



the surface of the ground. In other words, seed. 



