124 MANUAL OF NATURE STUDY. 



They do this in a variety of ways. The spring 

 beauty bursts open at the top, splitting downward 

 on three sides, so that the seeds can be blown out 

 by the first gust of wind, leaving the dry capsule 

 clinging to the stalk. The blood-root pod is also 

 erect and splitting from the top in two places, ready 

 to throw its seeds as the stem nods in the wind. 

 The poppy, a twin brother to the blood-root, opens 

 a dozen or more slits with a suddenness that causes 

 its ten-thousand very fine seeds to jump out of the 

 capsule into the wide, wide world, each seed to begin 

 a new life. The shepherd's purse also splits down- 

 ward from the top. Why do so many fruit capsules 

 open from the top ? 



What kind of weather is best suited for such 

 openings ? Did you ever know capsules to burst 

 open in wet weather ? Why do they not ? How 

 do the seeds get out of the capsules? Other fruits 

 and seeds may be studied as far as time and interest 

 will permit. 



3. Show how seeds are disseminated. 



Many suggestions have already been made under 

 (1) and (2) but perhaps there are teachers who 

 would like the work given in more careful detail. 

 With this thought in view the task is attempted. 



Dissemination. 

 Call attention to the great amount of wild lettuce 



