256 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



but the plant failed to do its long distance 

 work under human observation. In a day 

 or two a large number of the seeds were 

 found at much greater distances — some 

 even forty inches away. 



The seeds are almost as large as the 

 thin walled pods, but what pent up power 

 must be in these tiny fragile capsules that 

 throws these little cannon balls to such a 

 distance. 



I have read of an enthusiastic botanist 

 who says that even a garden weed may be 

 extremely interesting. In many cases 

 weeds are more interesting than rarer 

 plants. They have a persistence and a 

 perseverance that are commendable when 

 we look only at those characteristics but 

 annoying when we try to displace them 

 l)y other and more desirable plants. Any 

 plant that grows where we do not want 

 it to grow becomes a weed. It is not the 

 plant's fault. 



We commend, especially to our younger 

 readers, this purple pigweed and other 

 members of the family, though I must 

 confess that the purple plant is rather 

 more aristocratic and more beautiful than 

 the common green pigweed. 



THE SOCKETS AFTER THE liALLS HA\ E IJEEX 

 FJREU. 



Sunbeams and raindrops, the rustle of the 



breeze. 

 Flower-petals, green leaves, the welcome 



shade of trees. 

 Falling water, bird notes, and things such 



as these. 

 .\re in Nature's alphabet the A. B. Cs. 

 — Emma Peirce. 



THE BALLS AND THE CAPS. 



