Teachers' Leaflet. 



597 



tapering to the top. It is much taller than the leaves, stiff and woody to uphold 

 its ball of flowers and a shade lighter in color. The flower is greenish-white and 

 is attached to the stem by a slender pedicel. The perianth has six parts and a 

 stamen is inserted at the base of each, the anthers or pollen-boxes opening inward 

 toward the thread-like style. The flower has a fragrance in spite of its oniony 

 odor. The leaf is hollow, filled with moisture, and grows from the inner part 

 of the bulb. Like all inside growers it has parallel veins, which in the onion 

 extend down to each layer in the bulb. 



_^5 



Of six different packets of seeds, all receiving like treatment, results shozv that No. 

 ig is a total failure. N'os. i8 and 2y poor, the others very good. Note the 

 shrinkage of the seeds from which the rootlets have absorbed food. 



LESSON LVL 

 germination. 



Purpose. — To awaken an interest in the beginning of plant growth 

 and to show that care and choice are necessary in the selection of good 

 seed. 

 Preparation of the lesson. Make a seed-iester. 



In a phite or pie-tin put a double fold of cotton wadding, thick muslin 

 or woolen cloth ; mark off a sheet of blotting paper into inch squares, 

 carefully numbering each square and packet of seeds to match; put a 

 half dozen seeds on each square, place the blotting paper with the seeds 

 on it between the fold of cloth, make thoroughly moist and keep it so ; 

 cover with a plate or pie-tin of similar size — -- for seeds sprout best in the 

 dark — and set in a warm place. Seeds so treated are easily watched, 

 for the cloth may be gently lifted each day, and every change noted. 



