ARBOR DAY. 171 



most favorable for germination. The birds, too, belong 

 to the society of tree planters. 



White Oak : We will next listen to some accounts of 

 the wind as a sower of seeds. 



Sassafras (lona): Some trees produce dry seeds or 

 seed-pods, and usually drop only a portion in autumn. 

 They hold on to some seeds with considerable tenacity. 

 Among these are the buttonwood, basswood, ironwood, 

 blue beech, box-elder, hop tree, tulip tree, the ashes, 

 catalpa, locust, judas tree, birches, alders, larches, pines, 

 spruces. The fruit or the seed is thin, or provided with 

 wings, which distribute them as they fall, or after they 

 have fallen. In winter it needs but a slight packing of 

 the snow to bear up the seeds. At such times, some of 

 the seeds are torn from the trees by the wind, and may be 

 seen sliding along like miniature ice-boats, often half a 

 mile or more from the nearest tree. The wind also aids 

 in transporting the seeds of our elms, maples, willows, 

 and poplars. 



White Oak: Next listen to something more about 

 seeds. 



Red Bud (Cynthia) : A seed is a young plant and is 

 packed ready for transportation. It has a tiny stem, 

 some seed leaves, and a terminal bud. The mother tree, 



k before casting off her progeny into the world, did not fail 

 to give it a little outfit in the form of starch for food 



