CHAPTER XX 



WANDERING FRUITS AND SEEDS 



Ships and stowaway seeds — Tidal drift— Sheep, broom, migrating birds 

 — Crows and acorns— Ice— Squirrels— Long flight of birds— Seeds in 

 mud— Martynia and lions — The wanderings of Xanthiura — Cocoanut 

 and South Sea Islands — Sedges and floods — Lichens of Arctic and 

 Antarctic — Manna of Bible— The Tumble weeds of America— Catapult 

 and sling fruits — Cow parsnips — Parachutes, shuttlecocks, and kites 

 — Cotton — The use of hairs and wings — Monkey's Dinner-bell — 

 Sheep-kiUing grasses. 



THE ways in which fruits and seeds are scattered abroad 

 over the face of the earth form one of the most 

 fascinating chapters in the story of Plant Life. 

 There is an infinite number of ingenious contrivances, so 

 many indeed that it is not at all easy to explain them. 



However, suppose yourself seated on a grassy cliff near 

 Eastbourne or Brighton. 



Looking lazily out over the blue waters, you see Nor- 

 wegian timber ships and steamers of all kinds, from the 

 little coasting "Puffing Billy" to the huge liner departing 

 for Australia or South Africa. 



Plants are probably using every steamer ; in the straw of 

 the packing cases, in the cargoes of corn or grain, in the ore, 

 and in the ballast, there are sure to be seeds. Such stow- 

 aways are mostly weeds, but of course many valuable 

 garden, farm, orchard, and forest seeds are being intention- 

 ally exported. 



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