When the seed is put into the ground, the outside skin swells and bursts, the germ wakes up, and commences to grow-the plumule making its way upwards, the radicle pushing itself down into the soil. The seed-leaves feed it as it is growing, till the root can take up food from the soil.
Lesson 55
The Seed-Leaves
"Would you like to learn a little more about those wonderful seed-leaves, Norah?" asked Fred. "There are a few things about them which we ought not to forget.""Oh yes, do tell me, Fred," said Norah. "The more I know about all these wonderful things, the more I want to know.""Well then," said Fred, "the seeds which I brought you to examine had all of them two seed-leaves, and the germ itself formed the little hinge to hold the two parts together.
"Let us take the scarlet bean seed once more. Open it and you will see that it has double seed-leaves. ButI want you now to look not
at the seed, but at the green leaves of the plant. Here are some of them.
