BOTANY. 



PART I. PHYSIOLOGY. 



CHAPTER I. 



HOW THE SEEDLING GROWS FROM THE SEED. 



1. Since the seedling plant is useful in illustrating several of 

 the life processes of plants we may well begin with some studies 

 of germinating seeds. We may take for the first example the 

 pumpkin seedling, and then follow with several others in order 

 to become familiar with the parts of the seedling plant before 

 we study the life processes. 



THE PUMPKIN SEEDLING. 



Demonstration I. 



2. To prepare seedB for germination. — Soal^a handful of seeds (or more if 

 the class is large) in water for twelve to twenty -four hours. Take shallow 

 crockery plates, or ordinary plates, or a germinator with a fluted bottom. 

 Place in the bottom some sheets of paper, and if sphagnum moss is at 

 hand scatter some over the paper. If the moss is not at hand, throw the 

 upper layer of paper into numerous folds. Thoroughly wet the paper and 

 moss, but do not have an excess of water. Scatter the seeds among the 

 moss or the folds of the paper. Cover with some more wet paper and 

 keep in a room where the temperature is about 20° C. to 25° C. The ger- 

 minator should be looked after to see that the paper does not become dry. 

 It may be necessary to cover it with another vessel to prevent the too rapid 

 evaporation of the water. The germinator should be started about a week 

 before the seedlings are wanted for study. Some of the soaked seeds should 

 be planted in soil in pots and kept at the same temperature, for comparison 

 with those grown in the germinator. 



