224 
THE SEED AND THE SEEDLING 
Figure 211. — Diagram of Grain of 
Corn. 
A , hard outer covering ; B, protein ; 
C, scutellum ; D, plumule of embryo ; 
E, hypocotyl; F, root; G, conduct¬ 
ing vessels of scutellum; H, place 
of attachment; /, digestive cells of 
scutellum ; J, K, starch. 
seeds for their propagation 
should not be allowed to go 
to seed; and the greater their 
ability to grow after lying in 
the ground for a year or two, 
the greater pains should be 
taken not to allow the seeds 
to get into the soil. 
Wheat sprouts easily after 
a very short period of dor¬ 
mancy. This makes it neces¬ 
sary for the farmer to protect 
the wheat from moisture as 
soon as it is harvested, lest 
it begin to grow before it is 
threshed. Wheat that has 
sprouted is of little value for 
flour on account of changes 
which have taken place in the 
food matter partly digested 
for the support of the young wheat plant. 
201. Corn “ Seed.” — A grain or kernel 
of corn, commonly called a seed, is like a 
bean (1) in containing 
a young plant, the corn 
embryo; (2) in con¬ 
taining food for the 
use of the embryo 
when it first begins to 
grow; and (3) in hav¬ 
ing marks upon it. On 
one side of the kernel 
is a depression beneath 
which the embryo lies. Above the de¬ 
pression on each kernel is a slight prom- 
Figure 212. — Un¬ 
sprouted Grain of 
Corn. 
Figure 213. — Plu¬ 
mule Ready to 
Break Out. 
Root free and grow¬ 
ing downward. 
