326 NA TURE STUDY RE VIEW 



dener failed to find it. Darwin pinned the cotyledons down 

 and the plumule died of chill. This shows the exquisite instinct 

 of the delicate plant. Plants take some precaution against 

 drought. No matter how lovely the weather may be the leaves 

 remain furled until moisture appears. 



Very feeble are vegetable growths without adaptations for 

 environments. Some growths, such as grass which wrinkles and 

 moss which rolls, show flexible peculiarities to protect life. 



"The best laid plans of mice and men," as well as those of plants, 

 "gang aft a 'glee," and their cunning devices often fail. 



Not the least among plant organs is the seed, and marvelous 

 are the tales told of the distances travelled, cold and heat en- 

 dured. Darwin surpasses all competitors in that direction. 

 He tells of experim.ents with seeds which show wonderful resistance 

 to adverse environments. He and others have soaked seeds 

 in salt-water, with the result of tie survival of the fittest — a 

 large percent. We read of drift timber, carcasses of birds, crops 

 and feet of birds, bodies of fishes, and surprising to relate, of 

 icebergs, as carriers of seeds. When plants are identical, though 

 separated by hundreds of miles on the siunmits of mountains, 

 we turn to Agassiz' glacial theory for the answer. 



Frail, indeed, are the individuals of the great plant families, 

 but mighty are the efforts put forth for perpetuation. 



Many are the problems awaiting the lovers of plants — problems 

 which have never been solved, and the field for work is large. 

 Visit the plant on its native heath, learn of it, consider its ways, 

 and with the wisdom so acquired exclaim with the ancient writer, 



"How wonderful are Thy works!" 



What's a flower? A bit of brightness 

 Sprung unconscious from the sod. 

 Yet it lifts us in its lightness 

 From our earthliness to God. 



D. H. R. Goodale 



