Pakt III] Rama Rao : Notes on Sandal. 
seeds of sandal and of host plant^ were sown and covered with a thin 
layer of soil in no case exceeding the thickness of the sandal seed. 
They were watered daily exceptinrainy weather when there was suOScient 
moisture. To drain off surplus watei-j a small trench was dug on the 
lower side of the nursery bed. 
The earliest germination of sandal in one case was on the 27th day, 
in another on the 29th day, in the third case on the 31st day and in a 
fourth case on the 49th day after sowing. The observation in the last 
case was recorded by a Ranger, and the accuracy of his observation appears 
doubtful as it differs so enormously from the periods of germination in the 
other three cases. For practical purposes we may assume one month as 
the earliest period for sandal seed to germinate. I have observed germi- 
nation to continue even up to the end of the third month after sowing. 
Some days after sowing, the seed swells a little and the radicle deve- 
lops first and the seed-shell cracks near the radicle, thus allowing the 
latter to push forward and enter the soil downwards : then the hypocotyl 
develops and forms a loop which becomes thicker and longer and rises 
above the ground : meanwhile, the radicle grows rapidly downwards and 
becomes firmly fixed in the soil. Then the loop unbends and the hypo- 
cotyl becomes erect, crowned at its top by the seed-shell : the cotyledons 
also develop rapidly, though still covered by the seed-shell : the plumule 
pushes itself up vertically between the cotyledons and out of the seed- 
shell which still continues to envelope the cotyledons whose petioles have 
also emerged out of the seed-shell. When the cotyledons develop and 
expand to their full size,’the seed-shell drops off naturally. But very 
often insects attack the cotyledons before they are fully developed and 
nip them off leaving their remains on the young stem for a considerable 
period. In a young germinating seedling the taproot (radicle) which had 
not yet developed any lateral rootlets, measured 1 long while 
the hypocotyl along the curve of the loop was only up to the base 
of the cotyledons. The length of the cotyledons was 3 ^", while 
the plumule w'as only mere elongated speck. The cotyledons 
were yellow at their apex and green at their base. When the loop 
unbends and stands erect the well-known “ raddish-like ” appearance 
of the hypocotyl becomes distinct. Specimens illustrating these points 
have been drawn ; from an examination of them it will be seen that the 
plumule has emerged out of the seed-shell, while the upper portion of the 
cotyledons remains still enclosed in it. See Plate II. 
