THE ROMANCE OF SEED-SOWING. 131 



invention. We took centuries to find it out. The plants and 

 trees knew of it long ages ago, and so were led to develope the 

 various methods of ensuring a speedy and effectual transit of 

 their seeds to other and better soil, where they might find their 

 needed foods in rich abundance. Of course, in certain cases — 

 notably of some very small annuals, whose roots practically 

 exhaust the soil but little — their seedlings find a good position at 

 once, and manage to flourish ; those growing on sloping grassy 

 downs or cliffs, too, stand a better chance, inasmuch as their 

 seeds fall on ground at a lower level than that drawn on by the 

 parent plant. Examples of this are seen in our wild Snap- 

 drapons. Wall-flowers, and others, growing in such profusion on 

 railway-banks or on sloping limestone cliffs. For the most part, 

 however, those plants flourish best that develope tendencies that 

 tell in the direction of effectual dispersion of their seeds. 



I must not omit mention of one thing, before detailing the 

 methods of dispersion. Seeds must not be scattered until they 

 are ' ripe,' and ready to set up their own independent existence. 

 Hence, we find all sorts of devices for protection of seeds during 

 their growth. 



Some are enclosed in a thick, hard shell, such as Hazel- 

 nut, Beech-nut, Spanish Chestnut, Cocoa-nut, Monkey-pot, and 

 many others. Some are hidden away under overlapping wooden 

 scales, such as the cones of Firs and their allies. Some are sur- 

 rounded by thick fleshy coats, such as Horse-chestnut, Almond, 

 Apple, Cherry, and the like. 



Walnut has a covering which is not only tough, but bitter 

 to the taste. Muaoia, one of the LegtanitioscE, has its pod 

 covered with stinging-hairs. 



Some have the calyx closed over the ripening seeds, as 

 Winter Cherry, Strawberry-headed Trefoil, Herb Robert, and 

 some others of the same order. The wild Rose-fruits nestle 

 inside the hollowed-out flower-stalk which forms the Hip, 

 whose scarlet colour stands out in beautiful relief on the 

 bushes in September and October. Many Clovers have the 

 withered corolla for a covering to their seed-containing pod, and 

 perhaps no plant better knows how to protect its progeny than 

 Gorse, whose hair-covered pods defy wind, storm, and insect, until 



