SPRING NATURE STUDY. 589 



the dye may show, after several hours, in the veins of the 

 leaves, proving that the roots have taken it in, and the stem 

 has carried it to the leaves. So the roots take in water, 

 and food dissolved in water, for the young plant. This is 

 done by the fine rootlets and root hairs. 



Have children show how their fingers help them to cling 

 fast. Compare with rootlets and their use, bringing out 

 fact that these also help the plant to hold fast in the ground. 



Step IV. Adaptation to work. Summary. How roots 

 are made or fitted for their work : by growing downward, 

 by lengthening only near tips, by branching, by forming 

 fine fibres and root hairs. 



LESSON V. COMPARISON OF BEAN AND MORNING GLORY. 



Note. This lesson is based on the assumption that the 

 boys and girls are observing the development of : both bean 

 and morning glory. There should be some comparison con- 

 stantly, but it is necessary to occasionally have a lesson de- 

 voted to gathering up the important points of resemblance 

 and difference. 



If a considerable number of seeds of both kinds are 

 planted in late March or early April, several stages in the 

 development of both can usually be obtained a month after 

 planting, on account of the unequal rate of growth of the 

 seeds. 



Step I. Comparison of soaked seeds. Different in size, 

 shape, color, thickness and hardness of coat. Similar in 

 having a scar, where fastened to seed-box, a little stem, two 

 parts fastened to it (cotyledons), and a store of food. In 

 one the food is within and part of the cotyledons, in the 

 other the cotyledons are wrapped around the food. 



Step II. Beginning growth. In both the caulicle grows 

 first, pushes out through a certain place or hole in the coat, 



