:©ringlng ifonb ffuult 175 



axis or summit, and as its walls swell out the in- 

 terior is left hollow. In this space a cluster of 

 flowers develops and matures seeds, the flowers 

 becoming a thick sweet pulp, in which the numerous 

 very small seeds are contained. The expanded stem 

 serves as a rind for the fruit thus formed, and itself 

 becomes rich, sweet, and tender, the whole composing 

 the luscious fruit. 



In strawberries, blackberries, and others, the 

 minute seeds are held together by pulp forming a com- 

 pound fruit. The minute yellow spots on the crim- 

 son surface of the strawberry are the seeds borne on 

 the modified receptacle, which, for purposes of seed 

 distribution, has become highly colored, fragrant, and 

 richly flavored. 



Seeds are of almost infinite variety in shape and 

 color. Any seedsman's store will exhibit to us red, 

 purple, yellow, white, black, gray, brown, pink, green, 

 and gayly-mottled seeds. As for shapes they are 

 round, oval, flat, discs, stars, horns, crescents, 

 shuttle-shaped, spindle-shaped, full of Protean sur- 

 prises in their change of form. All these shapes, 

 colors, and flavors have a meaning in the matter of 

 seed distribution. The seed having come to be, 

 must secure its planting and germinating. 



Some seeds have pods which, when . fully ripe, 

 spring open with such sudden violence as to cast 



