THE WAY IN WHICH NEW PLANTS ARISE 141 



and this in many cases is the only way which they 

 have of perpetuating the species. 



195. Germination of spores. Take a small piece 

 of soft brick, and boil it thoroughly to kill all 

 organisms attached to it. After it has been in 

 the water for an hour, remove and set in a saucer 

 of spring water. Cover with a tumbler. After it 

 is cool sprinkle spores from some fern liberally over 

 its surface. Replace the cover. Replenish the water 

 in the saucer from time to time, keeping it in a com- 

 fortable living room in a dark corner. After a few 

 weeks a number of greenish bodies will be seen on 

 the brick. These have been produced by the ger- 

 mination of the spores. 



196. Another form or generation of the fern. 

 The bodies produced by the germination of the spores 

 are like small irregular leaves, and they are seen to 

 adhere to the brick by means of hairs or rhizoids, 

 which serve the purpose of fixing and absorbing 

 organs. Now these flat bodies must be fern plants 

 because they came from the spores of a fern. Their 

 relation to the ordinarily known form may be as- 

 certained if the culture is kept in order for a few 

 weeks longer. Small upright stalks will appear, 



