162 NATURE TEACHING 



notice how the fruits stick to the cloth. Make similar 

 simple experiments with fruiting sprays of the hemp- 

 agrimony, burdock, enchanter's nightshade, wood-sanicle 

 or avens, if any of these are obtainable. Examine the 

 little bodies which stick to your coat in each case, and 

 satisfy yourself that they are really the fruits of the 

 plant, and that they do contain the seeds. 



Dogs which have been running through copses, or 

 " grubbing about " in a hedge, will often be found to 

 have a large number of various fruits sticking to them. 

 If occasion offers, look these over and try and find out 

 to what plants they belong. 



Make careful drawings of all the fruits examined, 

 showing the hooks on each. 



Examine the following fruits : strawberry, black- 

 berry, raspberry, currants and grape. Notice that these 

 all consist of a pulpy portion, pleasant to eat, and 

 contain small, hard pips (seeds). Make drawings of all 

 of these. 



Cut an apple across and also lengthways, and make 

 a drawing to show the position of the seeds. 



Similarly make sketches to show the structure of a 

 plum or other stone fruit. Crack the stone and observe 

 the seed inside. Show on your drawing the great 

 thickness of the stone. 



Dispersal by Explosive Action. 



Watch a furze bush on a hot day in late summer and 

 try and detect some of the pods opening and scattering 

 their seeds. Squeeze some ripe black pods at their ends, 

 and notice how they split and twist up, throwing out 



