A GRADED COURSE OF NATURE-STUDY 497 



which it sprang is empty and soft. What has become of 

 the material that was in it? Try this experiment: Soak 

 some kernels of corn and cut away most of the food supply, 

 but do not injure the germ. Plant these and observe the 

 result. Why should we select the biggest and plumpest seeds ? 

 What part of an ear of corn would you choose for planting? 

 Plant six fat seeds and six small seeds of corn. Observe 

 the seedlings.* (190, 193, 152, 156, 222, 241, 228, etc.) 



Movements in plants: Observe the behavior of seedlings 

 when inverted.* (See Chapter XVII.) The stem and root 

 move upward and downward respectively. They seem to 

 know what to do. Observe the behavior or position of 

 oxalis, clover, or bean that has been kept in the dark, as 

 compared with one in the light.* Leave exposed, note 

 movement. Observe the motion of tendrils and twining 

 plants.* Observe the way the seedlings and other window- 

 plants turn and grow toward the light.* Turn pot or box 

 around and observe the motion. Touch the leaflets of a 

 sensitive plant * and observe the closing up and shrinking 

 away of the plant, and the motion of quite distant parts that 

 were not touched. Can this plant feel? (190, 164, 212, 196, 

 165, 156, 161, 153.) 



Flowers: Mayweed,* ground-ivy, purslane, cheese mal- 

 low, chickweed, an umbelliferous plant (caraway,* zizia,* 

 carrot, parsnip,* in flower), five-finger, wood sorrel, Sol- 

 omon's-seaL* Identify and study characteristics and uses 

 or harm. (Keys: 168, etc., — Weeds: 230, 241, 156, 246 

 "Weeds"; read C. D. Warner's " My Summer in a Garden," 

 472.) Make a collection of weeds, press, mount, and label. 



Trees: Distinguish the elms, done best by flower.* 

 Review the trees learned in previous years. What kinds are 



