NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 21 



pod contains one seed, and when the seed is ripe, the pod bursts 

 open and falls off, leaving the seed unprotected. Upon the stem- 

 like part of the pod is a long, feather-like plume, which is at- 

 tached to the seed. When the pod splits, the seed with this long 

 feather plume attached to it is floated off by the 

 wind. When dry, the plume curls up like a 

 corkscrew, and pushes the seed down in the earth 

 where it has fallen. At the bottom of the seed 

 case are some hairs, or bristles, that point back- 

 wards, and hold the seed so it cannot be pulled 

 back out of the ground. 



If, after the rain, the seed becomes wet, the 

 plume straightens out, but it cannot be blown 

 away again, as it is now tightly held by the lower 

 hairs, or bristles. Then, if the conditions are 

 favorable, the seed case will swell and burst, and 

 the baby plant within will grow into a new gera- 

 nium, just as the bean plant and the acorn grow. GERANITJM SEEDS 



We do not often raise geraniums from seed. We generally 

 raise geraniums from slips, as they grow more quickly than from 

 seed and are more healthy. 



If you like, you can try this for yourself. Get some ripe seeds, 

 lay them on earth in a flower pot, and watch the seeds bury them- 

 selves. Let them dry, then moisten them; then let them dry 

 again and watch how they work. Nature has many beautiful 

 lessons to teach us. 



