50 MANUAL OF NATDRB STUDY. 



Germination of seeds planted in school-room and 

 preparation of leaves and buds for the winter, effect 

 of frost, etc., were observed, the greater attention 

 being given to the facts easily seen. Now, in the 

 third year, the pupils should be led to see iho. func- 

 tion of things; perhaps not all things, but some 

 things. 



They are already learning, under the study of 

 the parts of the flower, that the function of the 

 flower is to make seed. It seems very appropriate 

 to introduce this subject of Seed Factory^ as given 

 in (2) of this course, after the seeds of radishes, 

 onions, and lettuce have been planted, since the 

 logical inquiry would be, where did these seeds 

 come from, and how were they made? 

 , The seed factory now having been established, 

 as in (2), the inquiry must continue until the func- 

 tion of leaf, stem and root is fairly well known. 



How does the root assist in the making of seed ? 

 First, it holds the plant in place in the ground. 

 Second, it sucks up moisture for the stem to carry 

 up to the seed factory. In dry times, it is neces- 

 sary for the roots to dig deeply in order to secure 

 the proper amount of water. The roots of elms 

 have been known to travel a distance of two hun- 

 dred feet to reach a pond that distance away. Wil- 

 low roots have penetrated to the depth of fifteen feet, 



