STONELESS PRUNES 79 



Possibly one reason why the stone fruits have 

 developed this unusual seed covering is that each 

 fruit of this family bears but a single seed. The 

 many-seeded apple does not need to protect its 

 seeds quite so jealously; but the plum, with its 

 single seed, can afford to take no chances of the 

 destruction of that seed. 



The case illustrates a familiar principle of 

 nature. Everywhere it is observed that the more 

 prodigal the supply of reproductive mechanisms, 

 the less the seeming care with which they are 

 guarded. Among forest trees that are fertilized 

 by the action of the wind, pollen is produced and 

 wasted by the ton. But in flowers pollinated by 

 insects, relatively small quantities of pollen are 

 produced, and its distribution is carefully pre- 

 pared for by the auxiliaries of color and 

 fragrance and nectar which guide the pollen- 

 distributing insects. 



The mustard produces thousands of seeds for 

 each plant, and it does not even take the trouble 

 to imitate the grains of other plants, in size and 

 form, as some of the seeds are obliged to do in 

 order that they may be distributed with the grain 

 when grown. 



The peach, on the other hand, produces but a 

 single seed for each flower and fruit, and armors 

 that seed with so strong a covering as to make 



