2 OF THE SEED 
observed a small body, called in common language the 
“ heart ;” (f. 2. ¢.) it is the essential part of the future 
plant in a very diminutive state, and the two seed-lobes 
are two storehouses of food to this little plant, as will 
be seen by and bye. 
These three parts, the two seed-lobes and the heart 
(or corculum ), are very constantly present in the gene- 
rality of seeds; but the Bean, Lupin, Pea, Almond, 
Walnut, Apple, Pear and Acorn, furnish some of the 
better examples for examination. 
2. In order to ascertain the nature and uses of these 
parts, let them be examined under the effects of a 
natural process. First, let a few Beans be placed in 
water for a day or two, and then let them be sown in 
pots or in the ground, and examine them from time to 
time. When placed in water even fora few hours, 
each seed will be found to have become heavier and 
increased in size, which circumstance is owing to the 
water having penetrated the shell or testa: next, the 
testa will burst, because the seed-lobes have swollen 
still more. At this point if a Bean is examined, the 
seed-lobes will be found to separate very easily, and 
the heart will be increased in size. Let those also be 
examined which have heen a day or two in the ground, 
and note the progress which they have made: the seed- 
lobes will be found much swollen, and the corculum 
or heart will be still more increased in size, so as to 
be readily distinguishable into two parts, one which 
tapers into a root like form (f. 3. 7.) and the other 
(s.) which has already commenced shooting upwards 
into a greenish stalk or stem-like part; in fact that 
