The Plantlet. 33 
from the seed-case and is hampered for atime. This pro- 
vision is peculiar to the pumpkin family,* to which the 
pumpkin, squash, cucumber and melon belong, though other 
provisions, which accomplish the same end, are found ina 
few other families, but many plants are considerably em- 
barassed by the seed-case during germination. 
43. Seeds of the Pumpkin Family should be Planted 
Flatwise, rather than edgewise or endwise, since in this 
position they most readily free themselves from the seed- 
case. 
44. Some Plantlets Need Help to Burst the Seed= 
Case. In many seeds having hard and strong seed- 
cases, as the walnut, butternut and hickory nut and the pits 
of the plum, peach and cherry, the enlarging plantlet is 
often unable to burst the seed-case, hence germination can- 
not take place unless assisted by the expanding power of 
frost, or long exposure to moisture, which softens the seed- 
case, or unless the seed-case is cracked before the seeds are 
planted (37). 
45. The Roots promptly start, as the hypocotyl emer- 
ges from the seed-case,— the main (primary) root from its 
poiot, and the branch (lateral) roots from its side. Some- 
times root-hairs (101) may be distinctly seen, especially 
when seeds germinate in the seed-tester (39). 
By studying Figs. 7 to 10, we may learn more of the ger- 
minating process. 
46. The Cotyledons (co-ty-le’-dons). In the bean and 
pumpkin, the seed, or what remains of it, seems to have 
separated into two parts that are united at one end,— the 
* Cucurbitacee. 
