50 
MANUAL OF NATURE STUDY. 
Germination of seeds planted in school-room and 
preparation of leaves and buds for the winter, effect 
of frost, etc., were observed, the greater attention 
being given to the facts easily seen. Now, in the 
third year, the pupils should be led to see the func¬ 
tion of things; perhaps not all things, but some 
things. 
They are already learning, under the study of 
the parts of the flower, that the function of the 
flower is to make seed. It seems very appropriate 
to introduce this subject of Seed Factory , as given 
in (2) of this course, after the seeds of radishes, 
onions, and lettuce have been planted, since the 
logical inquiry would be, where did these seeds 
come from, and how were they made? 
The seed factory now having been established, 
as in (2), the inquiry must continue until the func¬ 
tion of leaf, stem and root is fairly well known. 
How does the root assist in the making of seed ? 
First, it holds the plant in place in the ground. 
Second, it sucks up moisture for the stem to carry 
up to the seed factory. In dry times, it is neces¬ 
sary for the roots to dig deeply in order to secure 
the proper amount of water. The roots of elms 
have been known to travel a distance of two hun¬ 
dred feet to reach a pond that distance away. Wil¬ 
low roots have penetrated to the depth of fifteen feet, 
