SEEDS AND THEIR GERMINATION 



393 



FIGURE 127 



edible fruit cover, such as the cherry, blackberry, and plum, 

 are eaten by birds and animals and the undigested seed 

 deposited far away from the place 

 where the seed grew. Seeds like 

 the acorn are carried about by 

 squirrels and other animals. Many 

 seeds are able to float in water for 

 a considerable time without being 

 injured and are borne about by 

 currents. Shores of streams and islands receive many of 

 their plant seeds in this way. The cocoanut palm is a no- 

 table seed of this kind and is found widely scattered over 

 tropical islands. 



Seeds and Their Germination. Experiment 124. Take 

 two common dinner plates and place in the bottom of one of them two 

 or three layers of blotting paper and thoroughly wet it. Place some 



wheat or other kinds of 

 seeds upon this. Now in- 

 vert the other plate over the 



^HK Jj t first, being careful to have 



the edges touch evenly. 

 This makes a moist chamber 

 and gives the most favor- 

 able conditions for ger- 

 mination. Do all the seeds 

 germinate at the same time ? 

 Does the position of the 

 seed make any difference? 

 What takes place first in 

 the process of germination? 

 What appears first, the leaf 

 or the root ? Why does the 

 seed shrivel up? 



SCRUB OAK BRANCH Experiment 125. Cut 



Showing the acorns. open several seeds, such as 



