PLANTS SOWING THEIR SEEDS 29 



away under the flower at first, and then, when the 

 flower wilts and faUs, how the receptacle grows larger 

 and larger, until the seeds are ripe? Some plants hide 

 their seeds very carefully, like the shy Uttle violet; 

 and others, like the dandelion, hold the seed pods 

 where all can see them and where the wind can easily 

 scatter them. 



Every different way in which the seeds are cared 

 for and scattered is the very best way for that special 

 plant. 



The violet does not want to have the wind take its 

 seeds, for the wind would carry them to many places 

 where they could not grow. So the violet hides the 

 seed pods under its cloak of leaves. The stems which 

 hold them grow longer and longer and finally, when 

 the seeds are ripe, the seed pods appear above the 

 leaves, split open very suddenly into three parts, and 

 tlirow the seeds around on the ground about the 

 mother plant. 



Did you ever see the seed pods burst open? Did 

 you ever find them standing open all empty except for 

 a few tiny, round, shiny seeds that were left behind 

 when the others were thrown out? Perhaps you have 

 amused yourself by touching the ripened seed pods 

 of the garden balsam or the jewel weed, and watch- 

 ing the seeds fly out when the pods snapped open at 

 your touch. 



Not only are these little seed pods of the violet 

 hidden away from the wind, but the seeds themselves 

 are hard and round so the wind could not carry them 

 away. The wood violet must grow in the woods. It 

 cannot afford to have the wind take the seeds and 



