496 NATURE-STUDY 



culture experiments the life-cycles-* of these insects. Note 

 their food and how their mouths are adapted for getting it. 

 Note the habit of flies in collecting on filthy and decaying 

 matter. Such places are probably full of bacteria of decay, 

 and perhaps disease. What would probably be the result 

 if these flies should now walk on our food ? Discuss further 

 this point of flies carrying disease germs. Remedies. In a 

 similar manner consider the mosquito that causes malaria. 

 The mosquito biting a malarial patient may get the germs 

 of malaria and later transmit them to others. Refer to the 

 probable cause of yellow-fever's being a mosquito inoculating 

 people with the fever germs. Usual remedies used against 

 mosquitoes. Apply as far as possible at home. (129, 133, 

 130, 148, 33, 34, i48a.) 



PLANTS. 



GENERAL : The seed : * Study large seeds, such as Lima 

 bean, squash, corn, etc., and observe the coats, and em- 

 bryo or plantlet with cotyledons or seed leaves. In the 

 corn note the germ and the food store of starch. Discuss 

 the function of the seed-leaves. Grow seedlings * in soil 

 and also in glass germinators (see Chapter XVII) and ob- 

 serve various methods of getting out of the seed and mode 

 of growth. Note how the seedlings behave above the ground. 

 What they do with their seed leaves.* Note especially on beans 

 how the seed leaves shrivel. What becomes of the material 

 that was in them? Cut off the seed leaves of several bean 

 seedlings soon after they are above the ground and observe 

 the starving and perishing of the plant. What is the use of 

 the stores of starch in the corn ? Dig up a corn seedling that 

 has been growing for some time. Note that the kernel from 



