288 Chances of Life 



The blossom of an oak, on the other hand, produces 

 but one seed. But the advantage is not all on the side 

 of numbers ; for the greater the number, the smaller 

 the size; and the smaller the seed, the smaller the 

 germ, and also the smaller the supply of ready-made 

 food with which it begins life. A large seed, such as a 

 bean, has a large, strong germ ; and its two thick seed- 

 leaves, which are really store-cupboards, can supply 

 the seedling with plenty of food, so that it starts with 

 much in its favour. And so ten large seeds will often, 

 it is said, yield more plants than some thousands of 

 small ones. One may also conjecture that, when an 

 ovary contains ovules by the thousand, or million, each 

 requiring the contents of two or three grains of pollen 

 at least, and some as many as twenty, it is not unlikely 

 that some will be left out, and, failing to get what they 

 want, will not succeed in becoming true seeds at all. 



One perfect seed to each plant in the course of its 

 life is enough to ensure that, at all events, it shall 

 neither die out nor suffer any decrease in its numbers ; 

 but while the oak will be able to hold its own if it have 

 but one sound acorn in the course of a few hundred 

 years, the chickweed must have one good seed every 

 year, if it is to keep up its numbers. This, of course, 

 is supposing that the one seed is allowed to produce a 

 seedling, and the seedling to grow up into a plant ; 

 but, as much seed and many seedlings are devoured, 

 many more are actually required. 



Neither the acorn, nor the chestnut when it has left 

 its shell, has anything to protect it, except its colour, 

 which being like that of the earth, or of dead leaves, 

 may sometimes enable it to escape notice as it 

 lies on the ground; and if but one escapes now 



