WHERE DO SEEDS COME FEOM ? 



The wonderful distribution of seeds tlirou2;lioiit the soil 

 of the Tvhole earth, so that no spot is destitute of vegeta- 

 tion, that is at all fitted for it, is indeed a matter worthy 

 thought. 



The coral of the sea appears above the surface of the 

 wave ; it catches some floating sea weed, which, dying, 

 leaves a tiny spot that may give nourishment to a seed. A 

 little while and a plant is growing there. From this, as a 

 nucleus, in the process of time, comes the beautiful island, 

 covered with the luxuriance of tropical foliage, with plants 

 and trees of almost endless variety. 



Upon the western prairie, in the digging of a well, sand 

 was thrown to the surface from the depth of sixty feet. 

 This was scattered upon the surface around for a few feet. 

 In a little time, plants, unknown before in that region, 

 sprang up, grew and blossomed. Nor could any guess be 

 made as to the source of the seeds, except that they had 

 been thrown up from a great depth below the surface of 

 of the present soil. Many other instances, similar to these, 

 might be mentioned ; but these are sufficient to give natu- 

 ral rise to the question " where do the seeds of such plants 

 come from ?" 



There arc well known instances, where, when a vegeta- 

 ble growth of a particular kind has been removed, another 

 kind has taken its place. The first question, perhaps, that 

 occurs in such connection is, " Why does a different growth 

 occur in preference to repetition of the same ? The more 

 superficial soil must be charged with seeds of tlie growth 



