146 THE ROMANCE OF SEED-SOWING. 



them. If the wings were merely accidental, why do we not find 

 them on low-growing shrubs and plants ? " 



2. — " There are about 30 English species where dispersion is 

 effected by hooks, causing the fruits or seeds to adhere to the 

 coats of animals. If these hooks were simply ornamental, or 

 present by accident, why do we never see one such hooked fruit 

 on a water-plant or a tall tree ? What is the actual fact ? Out 

 of these 30, not one is aquatic ; not one is over 4 feet high ; not 

 one grows at a level belo7u that at which seeds would be likely 

 to get entangled in the fur of animals, having reference to the 

 usual size of British Mammals." 



Thus approached, the ' keys ' of Ash and Sycamore 

 circling through the air, the silvery down of Thistle and Dan- 

 delion, the rich, deep crimsons and purples of our woodland 

 fruits all have meanings for us; we behold in all of them additional 

 evidences of the great truth of Natural Selection, by means of 

 which, through countless ages, the Great Designer has slowly and 

 certainly evolved the myriad forms and colours of fruits and seeds 

 that call for study and attention ; and we look with wonder and 

 delight on them all, as, with perfect adaptation of construction to 

 purpose, fruit and seed are sent forth far and wide, on their 

 beautiful mission of regeneration and abounding life. 



The influence of the moon upon vegetation is an interesting 

 problem awaiting solution. A recent writer upon the subject 

 mentions that woodcutters in Cape Colony and in India insist that 

 timber is full of sap and unfit to be cut at full moon. Another 

 observation of lunar influence in Cape Colony is the rapid spoiling 

 of nuts and other provisions when exposed to moonlight, though 

 this may be due to the fact that the light serves as a guide to 

 insects. — [The editor, from many years' residence in Essex, is 

 well acquainted with the fact that no farmer's wife (of the old 

 school, at any rate) will pickle hams in a " waning " moon. The 

 days between new and full moon are chosen by the farmer to 

 kill hogs for home consumption, because, they say, the meat will 

 swell with the moon, but in a waning moon it will similarly 

 decrease. Is this custom noticed in other counties ? — Ed.] • 



