The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-07-08
Concerning Seeds.

In a recent address by Prof. W. J. Beal Of
the Michigan State Agricultural College he
remarks: 1t is the function of every one oil
the higher plants to produce seed once or
more before it dies. Whether necessary or
not,seeds are generally produced, even though
inc plant is easily multiplied by layers, cut
lungs. suckers, stoens, runners, etc. To the
farmer and gardener this is of great impor-
lance. A seed contains an embryo which is
a miniature plant in this condition it can be
easily kept for some time. 1t NAV be carried
by hooks to any distance, on the long hairs
OF buffalo, in case of burdock. Fieshy
fruits, like the hawthorn, may be eaten by
birds or deer, and the seed carried to dis
tant spot, there to grow and and produce
pants. Nuts are transported and buried by
squirrels. The witch hazel, pods of beans,
peas and many other plants, phen dry, shoot
the seeds for some distance. Even insects.
reptiles and fishes may aid in disseminating
seeds. Rlvars and ocean currents co their
part IN transporting certain kinds for many
miles away. Man exceeds all olher agents
in changing the place of plants. ''A host of
weeds follow his footsteps and commerce is
ever active in commingling tbs floras of dis
tant countries" Tribes and people of ali
nations carry seeds of their favorite plants
with them in their distant migrations.
Much as chicken developes in the egg on
account OF state of nourishment, so the en-
bryo Of the seed in most cases, is enabled to
start in its growth by means of food stored
up within it or about it. AS the young colt
or lamb is nourished by milk from its mother,
SO the embryo is nourished by means of food
winch the mother plant provided for its use.
Inc seed OF bean or squash consists of
miniature stem (rdeiclej, some seed leaves
cotyIedons), and rudimentary terminal bud
lptumule). These delicate parts are covered
by two coats, delicate inner one, tegnaen,
and harder outer coat, the testQ The seeds
OF buckwheat, wheat and Indian corn have
an additional substance called the endosperna.
This mealy substance is decomposed, and
most of it absorbed by the young plant as it
starts to grow. 1t is not my purpose at this
lime TO weary you with scientific details of
vegetable physiology. These can only be
well learned by systematic course of study.
They cannot easily be made interesting in
popular lecture. The walnut and acorn con-
tam each one or more embryo plants, with
out any endosperm. A seed of buckWheat
contains medium-sized endosperm, while a
seed OF weeat or coffee contains a small en-
Dryo and large endosperm. Some plants,
ike heaths and orchids, contain very minute
embryos, which will not grow except under
the most favorable circumstances, Such
plants are generally perennials; they live
from year to year, and are not dependent on
seeds to reproduce them, except now and
then in favorable seasons. The color, shape,
size and external marks on seeds are matters
OF great interest to the student, as well as to
the expert who attempts to distinguish the
good seeds from the bad-the genuine seeds
from the seeds of vile weeds. Some are COW
cred with smooth coat, which shines like a
mirror; others have peculiar dots, indenta.
tions, creases or ridges. Some seeds have
one or more wings. Some, like the seeds of
milkweed and cotton, have long hairs.