124 
MANUAL, OF NATURE STUDY. 
They do this in a variety of ways. The spring 
beauty bursts open at the top, splitting downward 
on three sides, so that the seeds can be blown out 
by the first gust of wind, leaving the dry capsule 
clinging to the stalk. The blood-root pod is also 
erect and splitting from the top in two places, ready 
to throw its seeds as the stem nods in the wind. 
The poppy, a twin brother to the blood-root, opens 
a dozen or more slits with a suddenness that causes 
its ten-thousand very fine seeds to jump out of the 
capsule into the wide, wide world, each seed to begin 
a new life. The shepherd’s purse also splits down¬ 
ward from the top. Why do so many fruit capsules 
open from the top ? 
What kind of weather is best suited for such 
openings ? Did you ever know capsules to burst 
open in wet weather ? Why do they not ? How 
do the seeds get out of the capsules ? Other fruits 
and seeds may be studied as far as time and interest 
will permit. 
3. Show how seeds are disseminated. 
Many suggestions have already been made under 
(1) and (2) but perhaps there are teachers who 
would like the work given in more careful detail. 
With this thought in view the task is attempted. 
Dissemination. 
Call attention to the great amount of wild lettuce 
