THE FLOWERING PLANT. 



45 



the starch will keep better (it is said to keep for cen- 

 turies), and it takes up less room. Here again our lit- 

 tle friend proves itself a good traveler ; it does not 

 carry much luggage. It is a great deal easier to turn 

 the starch into sugar as it is needed than it is to carry 



Fig. 34. 

 Bud at Top of Plumule. 



Eootlets. 



Tub Little Plume growing up into Stem and Leaves, and the Radicle grow- 

 ing DOWN INTO EOOT AND ROOTLETS. 



the sugar ready made. The bean, like a boy, has a 

 "sweet tooth," and it lives on sugar till it gets large 

 enough and strong enough to find other things to eat 

 in the ground or water. The young plant, thus feeding 

 on the food in the seed-leaves or cotyledons, is another 



