20 FORESTS AND MANKIND 



As the years pass our tree grows taller, puts forth branches 

 and at last takes its place with the other trees of the forest. It 

 is now ready in its turn to produce seed and scatter them over 

 the land to spread and perpetuate the life that came to it from 

 its own parent. These tree seeds are formed in the same way as 

 in the smaller plants by means of the union of two cells 

 formed in the tree-flowers. On most trees, as the elm or pine, 

 these flowers are so inconspicuous we seldom notice them. On 

 other species, the horsechestnut and magnolia, the flowers are 

 so large that the trees when in bloom look like huge bouquets. 



Big, brightly colored flowers may be one of nature's advertis- 

 ing schemes, for they attract bees and other insects, and these, 

 as they brush against the flowers in search of food help dis- 

 tribute pollen to other trees and aid in producing fertile seed. 

 Other flowers depend on perfume for their attraction to insects. 

 But big or little, seen or unseen, these flowers bloom high up 

 in the tree top and in them the union of reproductive cells 

 occurs, the germ of life is born, and a fertile seed formed. They 

 are many shapes and sizes, these seeds. Sometimes they hang 

 singly among the branches as in the acorns of the oak, some- 

 times within a cone, as in the pines and spruces, sometimes in 

 a fruit as the apple or pear. But each seed has within it almost 

 microscopically small this tiny tree of its own species and a 

 supply of food that will provide energy for growth until it 

 begins to manufacture food for itself. 



Numberless seeds each year are formed and sent forth 

 carried by wind and rain, by streams and even by animals. The 

 squirrel himself is one of nature's best foresters for he often 

 gathers twice as many cones as he will eat, and the surplus that 

 he has hidden away, may form a new grove of pine trees. 



