Distinguish the embryo from the endosperm.
Test with iodine. =20.= _Of what utility is the food in seeds?_ Soak
some grains of corn overnight and remove the endosperm, being careful
not to injure the fleshy cotyledon. Plant the incomplete and also
some complete grains in moist sawdust and measure their growth at
intervals. (Boiling the sawdust will destroy molds and bacteria which
might interfere with experiment.) Peas or beans may be sprouted on
damp blotting paper; the cotyledons of one may be removed, and this
with a normal seed equally advanced in germination may be placed on a
perforated cork floating in water in a jar so that the roots extend
into the water. Their growth may be observed for several weeks. =21.=
_Effect of darkness on seeds and seedlings._ A box may be placed
mouth downward over a smaller box in which seedlings are growing.
The empty box should rest on half-inch blocks to allow air to reach
the seedlings. Note any effects on the seedlings of this cutting off
of the light. Another box of seedlings not so covered may be used
for a check. Lay a plank on green grass and after a week note the
change that takes place beneath it. =22.= _Seedling of pine._ Plant
pine seeds. Notice how they emerge. Do the cotyledons stay in the
ground? How many cotyledons have they? When do the cotyledons get
free from the seed-coat? What is the last part of the cotyledon to
become free? Where is the growing point or plumule? How many leaves
appear at once? Does the new pine cone grow on old wood or on wood
formed the same spring with the cone? Can you always find partly
grown cones on pine trees in winter? Are pine cones when mature on
two-year-old wood? How long do cones stay on a tree after the seeds
have fallen out? What is the advantage of the seeds falling before
the cones? =23.= _Home experiments._ If desired, nearly all of the
foregoing experiments may be tried at home. The pupil can thus make
the drawings for the notebook at home. A daily record of measurements
of the change in size of the various parts of the seedling should
also be made. =24.= _Seed-testing._--It is important that one know
before planting whether seeds are good, or able to grow. A simple
seed-tester may be made of two plates, one inverted over the other
(Fig. 31). The lower plate is nearly filled with clean sand, which
is covered with cheese cloth or blotting paper on which the seeds
are placed. Canton flannel is sometimes used in place of sand and
blotting paper. The seeds are then covered with another blotter or
piece of cloth, and water is applied until the sand and papers are
saturated. Cover with the second plate. Set the plates where they
will have about the temperature that the given seeds would require
out of doors, or perhaps a slightly higher temperature. Place 100
or more grains of clover, corn, wheat, oats, rye, rice, buckwheat,
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