298 STUDIES IN SEEDS AND FRUITS 



Comparison of the Weight-Relation of the Pericarp — continued. 



* The peculiarity in the growth of the acorn is described later on in this chapter. 

 Here it is sufficient to observe that A represents the pericarp-relation at the time when 

 the seed and the fruit-shell cease to grow together. After this the growth of the pericarp 

 is arrested and the seed alone increases in weight, so that the relative proportion of the 

 pericarp decreases, as in B and C, until the growth of the seed is in turn arrested and 

 the maximum weight of the fruit is attained. If in the A stage the fruit weighed 50 

 grains, in the B'and C stages, when the shell would be hardening and losing its vitality, 

 the weight would be increased to 55 and 60 grains respectively. 



