67 
elastic spring which sends these seeds also far from 
home (Fig. 75). ae 
This performance of the touch-me-not you _, 
can easily see; for its name “touch-me-not” © 
comes from the fact that if you touch too roughly 
one of its well-grown pods, this will spring open 
and jerk out its seeds in the way I have just 
described. 
In Europe grows a curious plant called the 
“squirting cucumber (Fig. 76). Its fruit isa small 
cucumber, which becomes much inflated with 
water. When this is detached from its stalk, its 
contents are “squirted” out as if from a foun- 
\\ ) | } 
at iy 
‘a 
i Va 
j ‘ i 
i vil! iy Hf 
qi Ug 
Nel Vas 
i yp 
Fic. 76 of many feet. 
tain, and the seeds are thus thrown to a distance 
——0-0 S84 0-0 _———_ 
fe CHeESINUT AND OTHER SEEDS 
T the head of this chapter you 
see the fruit of the chestnut 
What fine October days this pic- 
ture brings to mind, — clear, cold 
mornings when we arm ourselves 
with baskets and a club, and go 
chestnuting. 
Usually the boys climb the 
free; and “shake the 
branches till the open burrs rattle out their 
contents. But sometimes a teasing cluster refuses 
