46 COMPANION TO TROPICAL READERS 



SEEDS 



(See Tropical Readers, Book I, pp. 105-108.) 



Expt. 56. Examination of Parts of a Bean Seed. 

 Soak some bean seeds for two or three hours in a saucer 

 containing water, or keep them on damp flannel until 

 they start to grow; observe how the seeds absorb water 

 and swell, and how the seed coat crinkles and splits. 

 The two seed leaves (cotyledons) should now be gently 

 pulled apart and the baby plant, which may be separated 

 with a needle, can be examined. Make drawings. 



Expt. 57. Examination of Parts of a Corn Seed. 

 Examine corn seeds in a similar manner, noting that 

 they have but one seed-leaf, and that the reserve of 

 food is not in the seed-leaf but around it. Make 

 drawings. 



Expt. 58. How the Store of Food for the Embryo is 

 Used. Plant some corn and bean seeds, and, when they 

 are seedlings about a week old, examine and observe 

 that the food supply has in both cases largely de- 

 creased. 



Expt. 59. Number of Seed Leaves (Cotyledons). 

 Plant seeds of six different kinds of plants (e.g. Indian 

 shot, iris lily, mango, coffee, cocoa, castor oil, corn), and 

 observe whether they possess one or two seed-leaves. 



THE BAMBOO, CORN, ETC. 



For general notes on the Study of Economic Plants, 

 see pp. 24-29 of this Companion. 



