IV. 



DORMANT SEEDS. 



MBRYOS of future 

 plants are protected by 

 the most elaborate and 

 beautiful arrangements 

 from all ungenial in- 

 fluences by hard and 

 horny outer coverings, 

 varnished and thickly 

 gummed to exclude 

 both cold and moisture, 



and by the softest of silky wraps within. The 

 marvellous variety of the provisions for the pro- 

 tection of the seed is so great that a large volume 

 could be filled with the interesting details ; but let 

 us take an instance that will illustrate the wise 

 and beautiful economy of the world one of the 

 commonest that dwellers in towns, as well as 



