140 NATURE STUDY 



Seeds need moisture, air, and warmth in order to 

 germinate. Liglit is non-essential in the beginning, 

 but is a necessity after the plants have come above the 

 ground. 



Metliod : 



Seeds may be germinated in sand, in sawdust, on a 

 damp sponge, in a tumbler, on raw cotton, or on blotting 

 paper similarly placed. With young pupils, however, I 

 have found the following to work admirably : 



Each pupil is requested to bring one, or better two, 

 timiblers and a piece of string, a foot long. They are 

 then given each a small gummed label on which the 

 name is written, and then attached to the tumblers. 



Squares of coarse cheese cloth, or of mosquito netting, 

 are given to each, and by each tied across the labelled 

 timibler. The tumbler should now be filled with water 

 so that the centre of the cloth is wet. Here place the 

 soaked seeds, and cover with another tumbler, if possible, 

 to protect the seeds from the dry, hot air of the ordinary 

 schoolroom. 



It will be less trouble to show the children a tumbler 

 properly prepared, and giving them each a label and 

 mosquito netting, let them do the work at home. 



Shall we place these tumblers in the light or in the 

 dark? If there is a difference of opinion, allow those 

 who think that the dark will be better to place their 

 seeds there, and vice versa. If no one wishes to do this, 

 extra sets may be prepared by the teacher and so placed. 



Shall we place them in the cold, on the window ledge, 

 or inside in the warmth ? As before, arrange to have 

 some seeds in the cold. 



The best seeds for study, because they are sure to 



