
LIFE STORY OF THE SWEET PEA 193 
In the first place there is a royal bit of life substance 
in the very young embryo case, known as the germ or 
egg. When the pollen is scattered from the pollen cases 
some of it falls on the end of the pistil. The pollen grain 
then starts to grow. It forms a slender tube as fine as 
a spider’s silk. This pollen tube grows down through 
the pistil, and one enters each embryo case. In each 
pollen tube there are two bits of royal life substance, 
called sperms. 
One sperm escapes from the pollen tube when it has 
entered the young embryo case and unites with the 
germ. TL'he union of these two bits of royal life sub- 
stance, the sperm and germ, gives a new life to the germ 
and a new impetus for growth to the embryo case. The 
new germ grows to form the embryo plant in the seed, 
while the new growth of the embryo case around it 
makes the seed coat. The pea seed is then formed. 
This completes the life story of the pea. 
