THE SEED AND GERMINATION 37 
presence of protein, but the endosperm, except on its 
extreme outer edge, remains unchanged. Oil, though 
present, is not abundant. The foregoing investigations 
show that the true difference between monocotyle 
donous and dicotyledonous seeds is, as the names 
would suggest, that in the embryo of the former there 
is only one cotyledon, while in that of the latter there 
are two. Moreover, endosperm, which is present in all 
monocotyledons, is found in but few dicotyledons. 
The Coconut is well worth study. It is really the 
kernel of the fruit, and, like a plum stone, consists of 
the seed contained in a hard shell. The white material 
that lines the shell and is eaten, is the endosperm, and 
the dark coat that adheres to it when it is broken away 
from the shell is really the seed coat. The germ is less 
than half an inch long, and is situated immediately 
beneath one of the three eyes, the substance of this 
eye being thin and soft, and on germination affording 
a means of exit for the plumule. In the hottest part 
of the summer, place a coconut in a box of sawdust 
and keep it in a warm place, watering it thoroughly 
from time to time with Iunkewarm water. At night, 
wrap the box in an old woollen rug. The seed will 
germinate and the plumule appear through the eye. 
Now break open the nut and note the huge sponge-like 
sucker that absorbs the milk and flesh to be conveyed 
in solution to the young seedling. 
The Date stone is a seed in which the hard material 
is endosperm. The embryo plant lies at the back on 
the side opposite the groove a short distance below the 
middle. On cleaning a date seed a depression will be 
noted at the back, where by scraping with a knife, the 
embryo plant may be exposed. This hes in a small 
cavity, and the sprouting rootlet makes its way out 
through the thin covering at the depression. The 
whole embryo may be extracted by placing the edge of 
a pocket-knife in the groove, and giving the back of 
