spires of greenish bloom ; but it is in the dried and leaf- 

 less winter stalks of this and a number of other weeds 

 that we find the best reason for their being. What 

 could the birds tell us? How would the winter bunt- 

 ings, sparrows, finches, and snow-birds bridge over the 

 snow-bound days were it not for this garner of seeds 

 which the weeds hold above the snow ? 



Generally speaking, the seeds of a plant are supposed 

 to be released upon maturity. We all know how speed- 

 ily the wind takes care of the dandelion and thistle 

 seeds when the plant has completed their education. 



