STUDY OF FRUITS AND SEEDS. 239 



from any single plant. The particular plant to be chosen 

 is a matter of convenience ; it should not be one with very 

 small seeds. A stem of wheat or corn does very well, and 

 it can be examined in this way before the seed is actually 

 formed. The teacher, after tabulating the results obtained 

 by the class, should write upon the board the conclusion : 



Scattering of seeds is a necessity. 



Fruits should now be examined with a view to determin- 

 ing modes of dispersal, and in order that pupils may 

 receive some guidance as to how to examine the fruits and 

 as to what to look for, lessons on a collection of fruits 

 exhibiting typical modes should be given. Subsequently 

 all fruits found or brought to the notice of the pupils 

 should be examined from this point of view, as well as 

 of course others. 



DISPERSAL OF FRUITS AND SEEDS. 



There are four chief ways in which seeds are scattered. 

 We may begin our consideration of the subject with the 

 action of the wind. 



Seed- scattering by the agency of the wind is the one 



WING 



PERIANTH 

 Fig. 111. Fruit of the Elm. Fig. 112. Fruit of Sj'camore. 



> 



most likely to be noticed first by the children. Have they 

 not all at one time or another blown from the globe of 

 Dandelion fruit the " fairy arrow," or chased the thistle- 

 down as it floated on the lightest air? A beginning 

 should be made with these, and pupils should draw the 



