ON HEMP. 



3 



ened (for water alone is sufficient to cause every kind of seed to 

 germinate). As soon as the lobes begin to imbibe the humidity that 

 surrounds them, they swell, and burst open the envelopes in which 

 they are inclosed, and exhibit to view the radicle (d), which im- 

 mediately pushes downwards into the earth. The plant soon after 

 makes its appearance above ground ( e. f. g. h.J, crowned with the 

 lobes, which are still covered with their envelopes. The lobes pro- 

 gressively spread, and, becoming thinner in proportion, form in 

 a short time, oval, longish, fleshy leaves : these are by botanists 

 termed the seminal leaves (i). 



Hitherto the stem has not made its appearance. Every part 

 yet produced by the seed, both in and above ground, belongs to the 

 radicle. At length we see a small stalk, and two small longish 

 leaves (k) come forth from between the seminal leaves. The plumule 

 then begins to shew itself, with the rudiment of the stalk, which 

 by degrees becomes longer and thicker. The leaves which it bears, 

 likewise, grow larger. From the origin of these two opposite leaves 

 two others spring forth, which are supported by a small stalk ; and 

 these new leaves cut the two first at right angles : the stalk which 

 bears them grows longer, and the leaves increase in size. From, 

 between these leaves we see a new stalk spring forth, or rather a 

 continuation of that which had already made its appearance. This 

 bears new leaves, and so on in succession, till the plant attains its 

 full height (I). 



B 2 



