MICHIGAN FA'PERIMENT STATION BULLETINS -"liS 



OBSERVING AXD CO^EPAIUNG WIIPLVT AXD BLX lv\VIIE.\.T 



BEFORE A]^D AFTER SPROUTIN^G, AND A COMPARI- 



SOX OF THESE WITH BEANS AND PEAS. 



BY W. J. BEAL. 



In the first School Bulletin the writer gave young persons some 

 instructions for observing and experimenting with the seeds of beans and 

 peas. Keeping these hints in mind and without further help, pupils are 

 now asked to show their ability in doing similar work with wheat and 

 buckwheat. As with beans and peas, so in the study of wheat and buck- 

 wheat, pupils will need boxes of soil or sand, one hundred or more grains 

 of wheat and the same of buckwheat. They may make the same kind of 

 an examination while the objects are dry and after remaining in water a 

 few hours; they will place some on the surface and others beneath the 

 surface, making notes and drawings, not forgetting to compare wheat and 

 buckwheat with the seeds formerly studied. These seedlings should be 

 watched and compared till they are two or three inches high, especially 

 noting the marked differences between them. In addition to this, some 

 one or more of the willing and earnest girls or boys may place ten or more 

 soaked kernels of wheat on wet sand covered by a dish. Lock for the first 

 sign of a sprout, and then at once remove the grain to a dry place and 

 keep there till the tiny sprout is dead, and then replace under cover on wet 

 sand and when growth is renewed, remove as before to a dry place and so 

 keep up the work to see how many times a kernel can be sprouted, each 

 time after drying. One or more pupils may do the same kind of 

 work with buckwheat and see which side will win in the contest. Notes 

 and comparisons may be made as the process goes on and finally reports 

 will be made to the teacher or to the class. 



It is sincerely hoped that the teacher will permit one class or more of 

 pupils to complete their experiments and notes before letting them know 

 what is contained in the following portion of the Bulletin. 



Below are presented some notes and illustrations, which give a very good 

 idea of what it is hoped some or many of the children will be able to dis- 

 cover and describe. Many other points could be named, and very likely 

 some of the children will discover things which are here omitted.^ 



In examining five dry grains of wheat, they find each differing some- 

 what in size, shape, color and markings from all the others. The kernel is 

 about one fourth of an inch long and wrinkled more or less. There is a 

 narrow groove running lengthwise on one side and on the opposite side 

 near one end is a peculiar wrinkled spot nearly circular in outline. At 

 the very base of the kernel near the circular spot, is a small scar where 



