Our Surroundings 



in one and dry seeds in the other. Also place in each jar a 

 small cup of lime water and cover both jars tightly. After a 

 short time it will be noticed that the lime water assumes a milky 

 appearance in the first jar where the seeds have germinated, and 

 that there is no such change in the water in the second jar where 

 germination has not occurred. Hence we conclude that ger- 

 minating seeds give off carbon dioxide. This also proves that 

 the seeds used the oxygen, since carbon dioxide is a result 

 of oxidation. 



To Show That Heat Is Given Off by Seeds During Germi- 

 nation. Place a thermometer in each of two jars, in one of which 

 perfect seeds have all the conditions for germination : moisture, 

 air, and moderate heat. In the other, let one of the conditions, 

 such as providing moisture by soaking the seeds, be absent. Notice 

 the effect on the mercury in the thermometer after germination 

 has taken place in the first jar, and compare with the effect on the 

 thermometer in the other jar in which there has been no germina- 

 tion. State your conclusion. 



To Prove the Necessity of Stored Food in the Seed for 

 Germination and Growth. Taking several perfect grains of 

 corn, place them in a jar having proper conditions of mois- 

 ture, air, and heat for germination. In a second jar, place 

 several grains of corn with the endosperm removed, having 

 the same conditions of moisture, heat, and air as those in 

 the first jar. After a few days observe the result and state your 

 conclusion. 



To Prove the Digestion of Starch During the Germina- 

 tion of a Seed. Using Fehling's solution, determine whether or 

 not grape sugar is present in several corn seeds before ger- 

 mination. After germination apply the same test to the seeds 

 and draw your conclusion. Try the same procedure with other 

 kinds of seeds. 



Conclusions. After performing these experiments you will 

 know from observation that seeds, in order to insure germination, 

 must have nutrient material, and proper conditions of air, mois- 

 ture, and heat. They will not, however, continue to grow vigor- 

 ously without sunlight. 



