142 POPPY. SEEDS. 



" vessel is called a Capsule, and has only one cell, 

 " divided half-way through by little partitions that 

 " run from top to bottom. The large flat summit 

 " forms a sort of crown on the top of the seed- 

 " vessel, which, when the seeds are ripe, opens in 

 " several places, close under the crown, to let them 

 " out. The seeds are round and numerous." 



EDWARD. 

 What is a Cell? 



MOTHER. 



It is a hollow space in the seed-vessel, for hold- 

 ing the seeds. A capsule is composed either of 

 one such hollow, or of several ; and these cells are 

 sometimes provided with little partitions, to which 

 the .seeds are fixed, until they are quite ripe and 

 fit for sowing. Can you find the seeds of your 

 poppy? 



EDWARD. 



Yes ; but they are very small. Would every one 

 of these little things grow into a plant, if I were to 

 put them into the ground ? 



MOTHER. 



Under favourable circumstances they would: 

 but it is probable that a good many of them might 

 be destroyed by damp, or eaten by insects ; which 

 is, perhaps, one of the reasons why they are so nu- 

 merous. 



