114 NATURE STUDY >BY GRADES 



Application. At proper times the teacher may call atten- 

 tion to the successive steps in germination, viz. the swelling 

 of the seed ; the bursting of the seed cover ; the appearance of 

 the stem, of the root ; the direction of each ; the shrinking 

 of the seed as growth proceeds, etc.; and the reasons for 

 each of the changes. 



The taste of many seeds changes as the process of germina- 

 tion develops. Let the pupils discover this fact. 



LESSON XXXVIII 

 BUDS 



See if the sap has begun to flow. Let the pupils make 

 willow whistles. Note the conditions of the buds, how they 

 have been protected during the winter. Distinguish between 

 fruit buds and leaf buds before they burst, and note the 

 changes in the buds as soon as the sap begins to flow. See 

 if the pupils can tell which buds will burst first and which 

 will not burst at all. What determines active and dormant 

 buds? What is their relative position on the tree? What is 

 the office of dormant buds ? 



Experiment. After the active buds on a given twig have 

 all begun to grow, and all doubt is past as to which are dor- 

 mant buds, destroy all the active buds and let the pupils dis- 

 cover the use of the others. 



Application. Should the late frosts kill all the active 

 buds just after they had burst, to what extent would the 

 tree be injured ? Notice the unfolding of the buds. Do leaf 

 buds or fruit buds unfold first? Can you give any reason 

 for this ? Have you ever seen an orchard in bloom ? How 

 beautiful the blossoms are, unhidden by the foliage ! Note 



