PHANEROGAMIC LABORATORY STUDIES 245 



the need of rapid development, may suggest certain of the structural 

 features which might be expected in the seed. Questions at least may 

 be raised, growing out of the general conceptions already formed from 

 incidental observation, which will unify and illuminate the whole 

 series of studies on the seed. 



Because I have found that this second method, that of approaching 

 laboratory work with an idea to work out, adds to interest and intel- 

 ligent appreciation, I have prefaced the chapter with several questions 

 which it is the aim of the exercises to answer. While the teacher 

 may make use of them by requiring the pupils to read them in 

 advance, it would be much better to draw from the class the princi- 

 ples of the subject, using a recitation period for the purpose, and 

 formulating some general scheme of work to cover the subject of 

 seeds and their germination. Of course under the guidance of the 

 teacher the resulting outline will assume the general form in which 

 the laboratory studies have been cast by the writer, providing Cha]3- 

 ter I. is to be used for laboratory directions to the pupil. 



I would suggest that, similarly, at the beginning of each of the 

 chapters of laboratory studies, time enough be taken to gain an out- 

 look over the whole of the field about to be entered. In the prepara- 

 tory conferences interesting points may sometimes be introduced by 

 illustrative material, even in cases where closer, more detailed study 

 is later to be given to similar material. 



Exercise I. — Castor Bean. Material from seedsmen. Tlie Castor 

 Bean should not be eaten, as it contains poisonous principles which 

 may do harm. Let the seeds be boiled in water for five minutes for 

 softening, after removing a little of the testa to allow the water to 

 penetrate. — White Lupine. Lupinus albus, oi the seedsmen. Soak 1 

 day in water. — Indian Corn. The flat-fruited Southern or Western 

 variety of Indian Corn, soaked for a day or two. For the sprouted 

 condition sow in soil, damp sawdust, wet sphagnum, or between sheets 

 of wet blotting paper, after soaking in water. Allow from a week to 

 10 days. If the proper stage of development is reached before the 

 class is ready for the study, keep the material back by placing in a 

 cool room (above 32^^ Fahr.). In estimating the time required to 

 grow material for class use, one should remember that, in general, 

 moderately high temperatures (70°-80°) accelerate, while low temper- 

 atures retard, germination and growth. 



A teacher writes : *' In the summer I boil some corn on the ear. I 

 carefully remove the kernels and preserve them in about 60% alcohol. 

 They can be used at any time." 



In the directions for drawing, the numbers in parentheses indicate 

 magnification in diameters. 



Exercise II. — i. Soak the Four-o'clock seeds 1 day. The Sun- 

 flower and the Peanut are suggested as having large exalbuminous 



