2 



ON HEMP. 



somewhat flattened. In general, Hemp-Seed is composed of a 

 kernel, covered with an envelope, which is hard and brittle, with- 

 out being ligneous; of a pearl-grey colour, inclining to brown. 

 On pressing it between the teeth, on the side where the ridge rises, 

 it easily separates into two parts, resembling the bowls of a spoon 

 (b) ; and the envelope being removed, we perceive another mem- 

 brane, which is the immediate covering of the kernel. The kernel 

 (cj, which is white, is composed of two oval bodies, thickish, con- 

 vex on the outside, and flat where they join each other. These are 

 generally called the lobes ; on the ridge of which we see a small 

 long, rounded, and recurved body, which extends throughout the 

 whole length of the seed, and is called the germ. 



Those who are acquainted with the anatomy of plants know, 

 that the lobes are a kind of mamma, which, having imbibed the 

 humidity of the earth communicate to the young plant, which is 

 attached to them by the germ, a nourishment fit to make it vege- 

 tate till it can itself obtain its proper food by means of the roots which 

 it pushes into the ground. 



It is also understood, that the rounded and recurved body, 

 extending the whole length of the seed, and commonly called the 

 germ, is the radicle or young root ; and that the rudiments of the 

 stalk, which are called the plumule, are inclosed within the two lobes. 



Having stated these preliminaries, let us attend a seed through 

 its various stages of germination. Let the seed be deposited in 

 moist earth, or between two pieces of sponge kept constantly moist- 

 ened 



