LUTHER BURBANK 
At the same time the other eye pushes out sail- 
like leaves extending several inches above the 
outer casing. 
Then, with sails set, and aided by the current 
of the stream, the nut starts out on its journey to 
find an environment of its own. 
Once landed, after weeks, perhaps, of travel, 
the roots which have heen growing inside force 
their way out into the moist soil at the water’s 
edge—the sail leaves begin to grow into stalks, 
which later develop into the trunk of the tree, 
the waves start to build new ground by washing 
sand around it, and the first page in the history 
of a new palm in a new environment is written. 
The hard shell surrounding the stored-up milk 
in the coconut is there, obviously, as a protec- 
tion from the monkeys; to prevent extermination 
through their liking for the milk. 
And that excelsior packing, and that water- 
proof housing, are these not as plainly the 
palm’s attempt to provide for its baby tree a new 
environment? 
We do not have to go to the tropics for 
evidences like these. 
There is probably no more familiar weed in 
our vacant lots than the common dandelion. 
[96] 
