A CALENDAR OF SEED DISPERSAL 133 



Optional Study 5. A Calendar of Seed Dispersal 



This study is intended to follow the class work of Study 8 

 (The November seed-crop, page 69), and to continue through 

 the second half of the fall term. A dozen or more of the 

 species of plants found at that time holding a full crop of seeds 

 should be observed at least once a week during the remainder 

 of the term. Thus, nature's method of conserving the sup- 

 ply, and of distributing it according to the needs of her popu- 

 lation, may be seen. No great amount of time will be 

 required if plants near to one's daily route to and from work 

 be chosen. A specimen of each kind of seeds, inclosed in a 

 small envelope and labelled, may be handed in with the 

 record of this study, if desired, for greater certainty of 

 determinations. The observations may conveniently be 

 recorded in a table prepared with the following column 

 headings: 



Name (consult an instructor if you do not know the plant). 



Kind of plant (tall herb, low herb, vine, trailer, etc.). 



Seed cluster (illustrate by a simple diagram). 



manner (seeds lost singly, in pairs, in clusters, 

 Seed etc.) 



dispersal agency (wind, water, animals, plant auto- 

 matism, etc.) 



seeds first out. 

 Date of maximum dispersal 

 final dispersal. 



Remarks 



An additional optional study may be allowed to any 

 student who desires to acquaint himself further with the 

 local trees, by repeating Study 9 as an individual exercise 

 with an entirely new list of tree species. 



