GERMINATION. 311 
The first process of development, wherein the young 
plant commences to manifest its separate life, and in which 
it is shaped into its proper and peculiar form, is called 
germination. 
The GenerRAL Process and Conpittons of GERMINATION 
are familiar to all. In agriculture and ordinary garden- 
ing we bury the ripe and sound seed a little way in the 
soil, and in a few days, it usually sprouts, provided it finds 
a certain degree of warmth and moisture. 
Let us attend somewhat in detail first to the phenomena 
of germination and afterward to the requirements of the 
awakening seed. 
§ 2. 
THE PHENOMENA OF GERMINATION. 
The student will do well to watch with care the various 
stages of the act of germination, as exhibited in several 
species of plants. For this purpose a dozen or more seeds 
of each plant are sown, the smaller, one-half, the larger, one 
inch deep, in a box of earth or saw-dust, kept duly warm 
and moist, and one or two of each kind are uncovered and 
dissected at successive intervals of 12 hours until the 
process is complete. In this way it is easy to trace all the 
visible changes which occur as the embryo is quickened. 
The seeds of the kidney-bean, pea, of maize, buckwheat, 
and barley, may be employed. 
We thus observe that the seed first absorbs a large 
amount of moisture, in consequence of which it swells and 
becomes more soft. We see the germ enlarging beneath 
the seed coats, shortly the integuments burst and the radi- 
cle appears, afterward the plumule becomes manifest. 
In all agricultural plants the radicle buries itself in the 
soil, The plumule ascends into the atmosphere and seeks 
exposure to the direct light of the sun. ‘ 
