After all the buds had quite opened out, they began slowly to wither. Uncle George told them the reason of this. It was because the branch had been cut away from the mother-tree, which drew its food from the soil and air.
The growing buds had used up all the sap which the cut branch contained.
But by the time their twigs had withered, the buds outside had began to open—for spring was now at hand.
The hedges were becoming greener every day. The birds were heard singing in the woods, and little green shoots were springing up everywhere under foot.
Frank and Tom brought home opening buds of all kinds, and watched the hedges and trees as they walked daily to school.
Two of the bean seeds were dug up out of the sawdust every second or third day. In this way the boys were able to see exactly how a bean plant grows from seed.
Stages in the Germination of the Runner Bean.
In 1 and 4, inside of seed, growing baby plant is shown.
First the seed swells out; then the skin bursts, and the little plant in between the two masses of plant-food begins to grow.
The root always grows down straight. The little shoot always grows upwards.