Handbook of Nature-Study 



The pumpkin seed is attached by its pointed end; 



it is flat, oblong and has a rounded ridge at its edge, 



within which is a delicate "beading." The outside is 



_, very mucilaginous ; but when wiped dry, we can see 



Plant^bmik-^^^^ i* ^^^ ^^ outer, very thin, transparent coat; a 



ingout of ihethicker white, middle coat ; while the meat of the seed 



seed-coats, is covered with a greenish, membranous coat. The 



meat falls apart lengthwise and flatwise, the two 



halves forming later the seed-leaves and containing 



the food laid up by the "pumpkin mother" for the nourishment 



of the young plant. Between these two halves, at the pointed 



end, is the germ, which will develop into a new plant. 



When sprouting, the root pushes out through the pointed end 

 of the seed and grows downward. The shell of the seed is forced 

 open by a little wedge-shaped projection, while the 

 seed-leaves are pulled from their snug quarters. In 

 watching one of these seeds sprout, it is difficult not 

 to attribute to it conscious effort, while it is sturdily 

 pulling hard to release its seed-leaves. If it fails to 

 do this, the seed shell clamps the seed-leaves together 

 like a vise, and the little plant is crippled. 



Both squashes and pumpkins figure in the spicy 

 progressed Thanksgiving pies, but the chief value of the pumpkin 

 crop in America is as food for milch cows ; it causes a 

 yield of milk so rich, that the butter made from it is as golden 

 as its flesh. But the Hallow-e'en jack o'lantern appeals to the 

 children. In this connection, a study of expression might be 

 made interesting; the turning of the corners of the mouth up 

 or down, and the angles of the eyebrows, making all the diff- 

 erence between a jolly grin and an "awful face." 



LESSON CLXXII 

 The Pumpkin 



Leading thought — The pumpkin and squash were cultivated by the 

 American Indians in their cornfields long before Columbus discovered the 

 new world. The flowers of these plants depend entirely upon insects for 

 carrving their pollen, and are unable to develop their fruit without this 



aid. 



Method — This work may be done in the garden or field in September or 

 early October; or a vine bearing both kinds of flowers, leaves and tendrils 

 may be brought to the schoolroom for observation. The lesson on the 

 pumpkin fruit may be given later. A small green pumpkin should be 

 studied with the ripe one, and also with the blossoms, so as to show the 

 position of the seeds during development. This lesson can be modified 

 to fit the cucumber, the melon and the squash. 



The Pumpkin Vine and Flowers 



Observations — i. How many different forms of flowers do j^ou flnd on 

 a pumpkin vine? What are the chief differences in their shape? 



2. Look first at the flowers with the long slender stems: What is the 

 shape and color of the blossom? How many lobes has it? Is each lobe 



