FOR THE USE OF TEACHERS. 



No. 14. 



Leaflet 



On Nature Study. 



Especially Adapted to the Use of Childfsen in Schools 

 IN Rural Districts. 



PREPARED BY THE 



FACULTY OF PURDUE UNIVERSITY. 



THE GERMINATION OF SEEDS. 



By Prof. J. C. Arthur. 



I brought in a handful of acorns from the woods some days ago, and 

 threw them into a dish of water to rinse ofE the dirt. Being a warm 

 day, although in February, I had taken a stroll to enjoy the springlike 

 air and see what could be picked up of interest. 



Under the trees, among the dead leaves I found quantities of 

 acorns, some still in their scaly cups, just as they grew upon the trees, 



and more yet that had dropped out of the cups 



and now showed the large round scar where they 



had been attached. Most of the acorns were well 



covered with fallen leaves and snugly enough 



tucked away from cold winds and weather. Of 



course, every one knows that there is a plant 



inside of the acorn, because we all have been told' j,jq j^ ABerminating 



that "great oaks from little acorns grow." »<=°™- 



It was odd to see how much the color of the acorns made them look 



like the dead leaves, sticks and soil, in which they were partly buried. 



I thought if the squirrels had as much trouble to see them after they 



were uncovered as Tdid, they might sometimes go hungry, even with 



plenty of acorns right before them. 



This made me think to taste of an acorn, just to see if it would 



be good to eat. So I cut one open and tasted ever so little of it, but 



didn't swallow any; for you may be sure that I was not going to eat 



