NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 



59 



William both hurried home, for night was falling, and they had 

 quite a long distance to go. 



The next day was Saturday, and Will was up early to see 

 Tom plant his oak tree. "First, let us get 

 a pickle bottle and fill it with water," said 

 Tom. 



"Now, Will, hold the acorn while I tie a 

 string round it. Next, we will tie it over the 

 bottle so that it will just hang in the water. 

 Now, let us put it in the sunlight and see 

 what will happen." 



"This is great fun !" said William. "How 

 long before the oak tree grows?" 



"Oh, we must wait a while," said Tom; 

 "the air and heat and water must work upon 

 the seed and cause it to swell; then it will 

 burst its outer skin, and the little plantlet 

 will begin to grow." 



"A plant inside, a real plant?" asked Will, who could not 

 understand how a little plant could live in so small a space. 



"Yes," said Tom; "our teacher told us that a baby plant lives 

 in between the seed leaves and as soon as it can it will grow like its 

 mother. Now we will leave it and try to be patient." 



Some days later Tom nearly ran over William, who was on his 

 way to the ball ground. "Come, Will, come back, my tree is 

 beginning to grow." 



THE OAK TREE THAT 



GREW IN A PICKLE 



BOTTLE 



