320 EXPERIMENTS WITH PLANTS 



and generous development of foliage ; as the fruiting 

 season approaches, decrease of water and increase of 

 light and heat are desirable: succulent fruits require 

 more water than others. 



Protection of the seeds from animals and insects 

 is accomplished in various ways. Look out for 

 examples of the following : 



(a) Spines, etc. (Chestnut, Thorn-apple or Jim- 

 son-weed) . 



(b) Hard coverings (Pines, Eucalyptus, nuts, 

 Peach, etc.). 



(c) Bitter or acrid taste while young, disappearing 

 with ripeness (orchard fruits, berries, etc.). 



(d) Suspension on slender stalks protects from 

 mice, etc. (Pea). 



(e) Concealment under ground (Peanut, some 

 Evening Primroses) . 



The outer covering of a fruit also acts as a pro- 

 tection against parasitic fungi and against too rapid 

 drying. 



"When the fruit is ripe its work is not yet done, 

 for the seeds must be scattered as much as possible 

 in order that they may propagate far and wide : this 

 dissemination is, in most cases, the work of the fruit. 



Gather a quantity of nearly ripe pods of the Lu- 

 pine, and place them on the floor of an unused room 

 where they may dry properly. As they become dry, 

 peculiar cracking sounds are heard and the seeds are 



