24 Lessons in Nature 



where they are attached. The seeds, when under the magnify- 

 ing glass, look like bitter-sweet berries, and are about the 

 shape of an orange-seed. The seeds are fastened together by 

 a kind of red substance that looks like red sticky jelly. 



All the children whose work is here shown were pupils 

 in the Chatham (N. J.) public school. 



B. LESSONS ON SEEDS. 

 I. The Seed-coat. 



Preparation. The teacher should first collect several 

 kinds of seeds. Large ones are best, as beans, pease, squash, 

 watermelon, pumpkin, hickory-nuts, chestnuts, walnuts, 

 peach-pits, etc., etc. Distribute two or three beans to each 

 pupil, having soaked them overnight to soften them. Give 

 each child a pin with which to dissect his bean. 



The Lesson. Children, we will learn something about 

 this seed. What is it ? Its shape ? Size ? Color ? Scar 

 where it was fastened to pod. Is it rough or smooth ? 

 Hard or soft ? Draw its shape on your slates. Take a 

 pin and stick it just under the skin of the bean, so as not to 

 injure the bean inside. Be careful not to hurt the bean, 

 for there is a little baby bean-plant inside. The little bean- 

 plant is asleep. Do not stick the pin into the baby. Peel 

 off the skin. We will call it the coat for the baby inside. 

 See if this bean has more than one coat. How does the 

 "overcoat" differ from the "undercoat"? How many 

 parts has the bean ? Pick them apart and see if you can 

 find the baby. 



Other Seeds. 



Do the same with pease, squash, melon, etc., until you 

 bring out the fact that the seeds of these plants have two 

 coats. 



Call these an overcoat (testa) and an undercoat (tegmen). 

 If c seed proves to have a third coat, tell them that 



