128 
THE FIRST BOOK OF BOTANY. 
Are they alike in thickness ? in hardness ? in color? 
in transparency? Name all the differences you see 
between them. 
In the same way, take up and examine, one after 
another, some seeds from each of the rows. Find 
their parts, and compare the parts of one kind of seed 
with those of another kind. 
If you are not able at first readily to separate a 
seed into distinct portions, do not hastily conclude that 
it is without them. Let it lie in its warm, wet bed a 
while longer, and then try again;* 
Now write in your note-book just what you have 
discovered about the parts of seeds. For instance: 
if at the top of the first page you have written bean ,- 
on the line beneath you now write- the question, 
Parts ? and the answer which you have found to this 
question—thus: 
Parts f Seed-coat. Body. Coat, thin, shinny ; 
or, on the page devoted to the apple seed, you write: 
Parts f Seed coat . Body. Coat , woody , brown , 
thin ; 
or, on the page for pumpkin-seed, you say : 
Parts f Seed-coat. Body . Coat, shelly , thick, 
limber. 
* Much that is important in their experiments children will 
fail to see, and they will fancy they see much that does not ex¬ 
ist. Their omissions, misinterpretations, and difficulties can he 
dealt with in many ways, but a desire on the part of the teacher 
for nicety of experiment and accuracy of statement should 
never lead to discouraging criticism. To keep the child happily 
busy with his growing plants is the main thing, and all degrees 
of awkwardness and imperfection in childish performance should 
be tolerated. 
