HOW PLANTS GROW FROM THE SEED. 
19 
leaves supplying abundant materials for the growth. A cherry-seed is just like an 
almond, only on a smaller scale. Fig. 38 is the embryo of a Cherry, with the 
very thick seed-leaves a little separated. Fig. 39 is the same developed into a 
young plantlet. Fed by the abundant nourishment in the seed-leaves, it shoots up 
its stem and unfolds three or four leaves before the Maple (Fig. 28, 29) or the 
Morning-Glory (Fig. 20-22) 
would have made any. It is 
the same in the Chestnut and 
the Beech. In these, as in the 
Cherry and the Bean, the thick 
seed-leaves, which make the 
whole kernel, come up, turn 
green, and become thinner as 
they give up their load of 
nourishment to the growing 
parts; they evidently try to 
become useful green leaves; 
but having been used for hold¬ 
ing nourishment, they remain 
too thick and clumsy for foli¬ 
age, and they soon die or fall 
off. But in 
43. The Horsechestnut, the 
Acorn, and the Pea, the seed- 
leaves are so very thick, and 
so heavily loaded, that they 
never undertake to serve any 
other purpose than that of 
feeding the other parts as they 
grow. So they remain in the 
shell or husk; and, as they 
are not to rise out of the 
ground, there is no need for 
their stemlet, or radicle, to 
lengthen, except enough to get 
41 
