The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1882-10-14
Plant Growth Viewed as 10 Time.

Plants are arranged In three groups
as TO their period Of existence, namely:
Annual. biennial, perennial; that Is,
whetherthey live for one, two, or more
than wOycars. The natural beginning Of
\ seed-bearing plant is thegrowth from
the seed, or termination. The early
life Of all plants in the three groups is
very much the same. II is an %en.aree-
nient Of the embryo. or young plantiet,
that was formed in the seed before it was
separated from the mother plant. This
first growth Is at the expense Of food
that was packed away with the embryo,
either within or around It's thickened
seed leaves, and both the plant and tho
TODD that Is 10 nourish its first
growth are surrounded by protective
coverings, called the seed coats. Gormi-
nation, though n complicated chemico-
vital process, Is in essence the fore
ing OF the young plant from It's sur
rounding coverings and the establish.
ment of sell in the soil and the sunshine.
This is n process that Is common TO all
plants that grow from seeds. The be.
ginning Of AN independent existence Is
the formation OF n seed. and with tho
seeds the cycle Is completed. The aim
of every plant is the multiplication and
perpetuaiion OF its kind, and rs the seed
is the common form in which plant
units are cast OH, II is clear that in the
formation Of seed we have the end
toward which vegetation tends.
In the annual plant tho whole round
OF life is completed in n single year.; II
terminates, develops It's system OF
roots, stems and leaves. produces is
flowers and perfects It's o6~spring-the
seed. all within the compass OF u single
year. With this work done the old
plant dies. In the biennial the method
Is somewhat different The first YEAR Il
devoted 10 the work Of accumulatinp
material out Of which the plant makes
It's seeds the following year. Compared
tn the annual there Is an unusual do,
,elopmcnt Of roots and foliage. and to.
ward tho end Of summer. n storing M
Of n large amount Of concentrated food
In some part OF the plant Contrast the
barley plant with lis short life OF a few
months, and simple stralghtforwardncs,
IN all Its processes, with tho carrot,
turnip or beet, which has a large rooI
system and many leaves, for the first
year, and an accumulation Of starch,
sugar. etc. In the main root. Mt the end
OF the season. No seeds have been
formed, and the end OF the plants exist.
cncc has not been reached. The next
season the ileshy root sends up y flower
stem, and the storc 81 organic matter,
starch. etc.. that was made the previou,
season Is used up In the formation and
perfecting a large number Of seeds.
The original plant loses It's life in the
production Of many offspring or seeds.
In the third class Is included all oil
u trees and shrubs. anda vast number
OF herbs that are known by tho genera
term OF ~rercnnials. They grow on
from year 10 year. and In most case,
have no definite time In which 10 com
plete the cycle. The first year of the
young tree, maple or oak, Is MATERIAL,
different from that Of the annual oats OF
biennial beet; lis time for getting read,
for the production OF seed Is heightened
out through several years. After ih,
time for the bearing Of offspring ha.
come, centuries may pass before deatl
ensucs, In each year OF viii h. II condi
Ions are favorable. seeds may be
formed. The process may be 80 SLOW
that morc than n single season Is 70
quircd for the growth and perfection o
a seed. -Americdn AgncaharsL