Fertilization — Distribution . 6 5 



ized by pollen so as to have power of independent 

 growth, the seed fails to fill. This is certainty the 

 rule— if there are any exceptions, they are not more 

 common than parthenogenesis in the animal king- 

 dom. The necessity of fertilization to secure the 

 filling of the seed, is illustrated by what occurs in 

 many of our most useful cultivated plants, especial- 

 ly in the Indian corn. Every silk of the ear is con- 

 nected with a kernel ; and its office is to conduct the 

 life-giving portion of the pollen that may chance to 

 fall upon it to the kernel hidden in the husks be- 

 neath. If it does the work, we have the golden 

 rows well filled. But for every thread that fails, a 

 vacant place is found upon the ear in harvest time. 

 The kernel fills with food fitted for the support of 

 the living germ within it. And all that wealth of 

 food for man so abundantly produced each year— 

 the rich harvest of grain that gives stimulus to trade 

 and commerce because so essential to the daily sup- 

 port of animal life, is but the provision which the 

 plants have made for their young. 



But when the seed is filled the young plantlet 

 is simply provided with means to start in life— its 

 final welfare depending upon its finding a congenial 

 soil. To secure this, special provision has been 

 made by many plants for the distribution of their 

 seeds. To some seeds balloons of down are fixed 

 by which they are lifted by the winds and scattered 

 broadcast over the land. Others, like those of the 

 Elm and Birch, have a web or circular wing— others 

 still have prongs with barbs that fasten upon men 

 and animals and thus they are distributed by un- 



