CATKINS 



clusters, and each flower consists of an ovary 

 surrounded by a brown cup-like envelope bearing 

 six stamens ; so that they more nearly approach 

 such flowers as the lily and poppy previously 

 referred to. Later, when the leaves appear, each 

 of their ovaries develops into a leaf-like fruit with a 

 thickened seed in the centre, the fruit being readily 

 dispersed by its leafy attachment (Fig. 43, Plate 2^^, 

 There are many other examples that might be 

 considered, such as oak, willow, beech, birch, horn- 

 beam, etc., but these will all be found, more or 

 less, to resemble those examples I have mentioned 

 above ; and the rambler in search of them may 

 fathom their secrets in most cases by means of a 

 sharp penknife and a pocket magnifying lens. And 

 while he is so doing he may think not only of the 

 wondrous details of Nature's minute work, but 

 also how well-planned are her schemes. Glancing 

 at the leafless branches he will ask ; Why do not 

 the catkins appear, like most other flowers, to- 

 gether with the leaves ? Then let him reflect 

 upon the agency of the thicket of leaves in inter- 

 cepting the pollen carried here and there by the 

 winds, and the answer is obvious. Then, again, 

 March and April are the two months of the year 

 when the catkins hold their revels ; and also these 

 months are the windiest of the year. The in- 

 finitely minute pollen grain, the ^^ March winds," 

 and the giant oak or elm tree are all simple 

 links in a perfect chain of interrelated facts — an- 

 other example of the perfect unity that underlies 

 all Nature's processes. 



57 



