222 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



occur in vast swarms, they can hardly fail to be highly effective 

 agents in seed dissemination, thus repaying to some extent for 

 the immense damage they often do. 



Fishes are known to swallow seeds of many kinds, and must 

 transport them from place to place; but the value of fishes as 

 seed conveyers is hard to estimate. 



We have just said that our edible fruits are really contriv- 

 ances for securing seed dissemination, especially through the 

 agency of birds. Take, for example, some of our common fruits 

 the currant, grape, plum, peach, apple, etc. All these are con- 

 structed with this end in view. When ripe, they are colored 

 brightly to attract animals; some possess agreeable odors, and 

 most have a delicious taste and consistence. In short, they are 

 highly adapted to become the food of animals. While swallow- 

 ing such food animals can hardly help swallowing seeds as well, 

 and such seeds are finally emitted under conditions admirably 

 conducive to germination. Why our most delicious fruits are 

 often offset by their disagreeable seeds may have occurred to 

 many of us. The fact is, by this means seeds are protected from 

 possible injury in the alimentary canals of animals. Take, for 

 example, the small, hard seeds of the grape or fig, and the similar 

 so-called seeds of the strawberry, blackberry, and others. Far 

 from being destroyed by the digestive juices, the seeds are prob- 

 ably facilitated in their germination by the warmth and moisture 

 received. 



The rapid ripening of fruits doubtless prevents their prema- 

 ture destruction. The accompanying change in color is remark- 

 able. Whereas young fruits harmonize completely with sur- 

 rounding color, mature fruits are extremely conspicuous. Recall 

 the barberry, rose, sumach, mountain ash, and many more. In 

 some honeysuckles each cluster of scarlet berries stands in violent 

 contrast against a green leaf. In the blackberry lily of our gar- 

 dens the sides of the pod roll back and display their white linings, 

 conspicuously relieving the black, berry-like seeds. The burning- 

 bush is a brilliant example with its flaming scarlet. In the West 

 Indies is a plant whose pods are red within, containing seeds that 

 are blue. Other instances might be named, but they are indefi- 

 nitely numerous and easily observed by any one. 



Many of our fruits are covered with a waxy " bloom " as it is 

 called. This is plainly a protection, for it is commonly known that 

 fruits will long resist decay provided this coating is uninjured. 

 Its probable effect is to resist decomposition by moisture and fungi. 



The edible portion, however, is of most interest to us, not only 

 scientifically, but also in a practical way. How highly it is es- 

 teemed by some animals may be judged from the expense we 

 often incur in buying fruits out of season. 



