THE WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF PLANT-GERMS. 35 



sun's light and heat soil which has been deprived 

 of such sunlight and heat for unknown ages, in 

 many indeed, in most cases is followed by the 

 appearance of vegetation often containing species 

 quite strange to that particular section of country. 



A curious story of such a case is told, which, if 

 true, shows in a striking manner the wonderful 

 vitality of certain seeds. In a given section of 

 country, let us say in England, a farmer com- 

 menced to dig a well. This act, so common in 

 an agricultural district, attracted no particular 

 attention until the depth of the still dry hole far 

 exceeded that of most wells in the locality. The 

 neighbors then began to speculate as to whether 

 the farmer would eventually strike water, but 

 when he continued without success, many of his 

 neighbors began to quietly laugh at him. The 

 farmer, however, persisted, and at last his per- 

 sistency or stubbornness, whichever it may have 

 been, was rewarded. 



After having dug through a considerable deposit 

 of sand, which appeared very much like the sand 

 of an ancient sea-beach, a water-logged stratum 

 was reached from which gushed forth a copious 

 supply of excellent water. So pleased was the 

 farmer with the result of his labors, that he ar- 



