Germination of Helianthus annuus, 717 
here interested us most was the changes in the oily reserve, and because the 
protein products have been examined in some detail in this seedling, and 
very thoroughly in many others by Schulze and his pupils. 
Ether Extract .—The per cent, of ether extract in the cotyledons 
remains a constant for the first three days of germination. The actual 
amount of extract has diminished, however, about \ of the amount at 
first present, a fact which shows that during the same period the other 
reserves of the seed must have been diminished also. 
The weight of the ether extract in the cotyledons decreases gradually 
5J< 
So 
1 
\ 
MS 
\ 
\ 
\ 
\ 
\ 
\ 
MO 
\ 
\ 
\ 
\ 
3S 
\ 
\ 
\ 
\ 
JO 
\ 
\ 
\ 
\ 
\ 
zs 
\ 
k 
\ 
\ 
\ 
20 
\ 
\ 
\ 
« 
\ 
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" 1 
_____ R 
fo 
V G 
vT 
a 
l 
.2 
3 . 
4- 
£ 
& 
3 
fl 
3. 
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n 
Length of Time m Days. 
Fig. 16. Ether Extract, per cent, of dry material. 
from the very beginning of germination. The most rapid decrease of this 
reserve takes place between the period when the cotyledons are just begin¬ 
ning to break through the ground and the time when they are fully 
expanded. The per cent, of ether extract in the hypocotyls and roots falls 
very rapidly, and after the cotyledons are above ground it remains almost 
constant. The amount of the ether extract in grams, however, decreases 
only slightly during the eg.rly stages of the seedling, but when the greatest 
decrease is taking place in the cotyledons, the oil in the hypocotyls and 
