GERMINATION. 67 



like a garden, dispersing plants that would otherwise re- 

 main only in certain localities, leaving other places poorer 

 for their absence. 



CHAPTER VIL 

 Germination, 



165. Although nearly all that you shall learn in this 

 chapter has been detailed to you in the previous chapters, 

 yet for the sake of clearness, and your perfect understand- 

 ing of the process of germination, we will dwell a little 

 more upon how the principle of life seems to awaken into 

 activity; and the result, as exhibited in the various trans- 

 formations and developments of the parts of the seed. 



166. There are three things necessary for germination, 

 and these three are heat^ water, and air. If a seed is ex- 

 posed to moisture without heat, it decays; if you give it 

 heat without moisture, no change takes place unl-^ss the 

 temperature be very high or long continued, when it loses 

 its vitality. You may give it all the other requirements, 

 and yet without the proper quantity of air, or, more prop- 

 erly speaking, oxygen, the result will be the same — no 

 germination takes place. 



167. When the requisite agents are present the seed 

 swells, bursts the outer covering or coat ; the radicle first 

 makes its appearance and strikes downward ; the cotyledons 

 arise and expand ; the plumule next is seen issuing from 

 between the cotyledons, and arising upward. 



165. Subject of this lesson? 



166. How many things are necessary for germination? What if a seed has 

 moisture without heat ? Heat without moisture ? Heat and moisture without 

 air, or rather oxygen ? 



167. When all are present ? Describe the change that takes place. What ap- 

 pears first ? The next, etc. ? 



