DIRECTIONS FOR THE STUDY OF THE CONIFERS. 61 



The fruit. Observe the position of the cones or fruit. Does the 

 cone stand in the same position as the flower? How much growth 

 has intervened? Are there younger and smaller cones on the tree 

 at the same time? What do you infer as to the length of time re- 

 quired for the maturing of the fruit? Examine cones of different 

 species and note differences of size, form, color, hardness, surface 

 markings, and other features. What trees mature their cones in one 

 year? Which in two? Take a closed ripe cone from the tree and 

 keep it in a dry place. Observe the manner in which it opens. Ex- 

 amine the structure of the cone. Is there more than one series of 

 organs? Notice in most cases the bract just below the seed-bearing 

 scale. Compare different species as to the relative development of 

 scale and bract. 



The seed. What is the position of the seed in the cone? How 

 many seeds are borne on each scale ? In what position on the scale ? 

 What facilities for distribution do the seeds possess? How effective 

 as a means of distribution are the wings found on some seeds ? Let 

 fall some seeds having wings from a height of several feet. Is the 

 rate of its fall controlled by the wing? Of what use is such retarda- 

 tion of fall among seeds disseminated by the wind? Estimate the 

 average number of seeds to the cone. Remove the coat of a seed and 

 observe the fleshy contents. In the center of the fleshy mass lies the 

 embryo, a cylindrical or club-shaped body with a root rudiment, or 

 radicle, at the smaller end, and at the larger a circle of small mem- 

 bers, the seed leaves or cotyledons; the young stem is the middle 

 portion. The fleshy material surrounding the embryo is called the 

 endosperm, and serves as food for the seedling until it becomes 

 established in the soil. Soak a few pine seeds in water for a day, 

 and then sow in light soil in boxes or out of doors, keep slightly 

 moist, and watch for the appearance of the young plants. Observe 

 the behavior of the young plants with reference to the seed coat and 

 endosperm. What purpose do the cotyledons serve first? L<ater? 

 Compare seeds of different members of the pine family as to their 

 form and their behavior during germination. 



REFERENCES. 



The following books will be found helpful for a further study of the Rocky 

 Mountain trees: 



Britton, N. L. North American Trees. 

 Howell, Thomas. Flora of Northwest America. 

 Nelson, Aven. New Manual of Rocky Mountain Botany. 

 Rydberg, P. A. Botany of the Rocky Mountains. 

 Sargent, C. S. Manual of the Trees of North America. 

 Sudworth, George B, Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope 



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