EXPERIMENTS WITH PLANTS 



is called a fruit, but for convenience we may speak 

 of it as a seed; its covering we may call a seed- cover, 

 whether it be a simple seed- coat or some- 

 thing more. 



Obtain all the seeds you can which are 

 large enough for study (including those of 

 common fruits, flowers, cereals, etc.), com- 

 pare them carefully with the types we have 

 just studied: discover the germ in each one 

 9. Peanut, and study it with especial care. 



As the result of this comparison, we may con- 

 clude that a seed is an embryo plant provided with 

 a cover, and in some cases with 

 endosperm: before germination 

 it is in a sleeping or dormant 

 condition. 



What is needed to awaken 

 the seed? Many persons will 

 say that water and warmth are 

 necessary. Place some seeds 

 in moist sawdust in a place 

 warm enough to ensure germi- 

 nation. The sawdust should be merely moist (not so 

 wet that water can be squeezed out of it by the hand) , 

 and may be placed in boxes, pots or cans, which must 

 have holes provided in the bottom for drainage : plant 

 the seeds about an inch deep. 



Place some seeds of the same kind on ice, as shown 



10. Peanut opened, showing eau- 

 licle (c). plumule (pi) and seed- 

 leaf (si). 



