32 The Natural Distribution of Forest- Tree Seeds. 



planters in the world, as during the nut season they are continually 

 burying these seeds, just below the surface, un- 

 der the leaves and in the rich soil, in conditions 

 eminently favorable for vegetation. This is 

 done at a season when the vitality of these 

 seeds is greatest ; and although some of them 

 may be afterwards eaten, vast numbers germi- 

 nate and grow to trees. 



126. This will sufficiently account for most 

 instances in which the trees bearing heavy 

 seeds, such as the oaks and the nut-trees, are 

 found scattered through a forest of other kinds, 

 where none were noticed before. Upon careful 

 is. seed of the European examination in a pine woodland, we may often 

 (Carpinus find multitudes of young oaks, that spring up 

 from the planting of squirrels, and that soon 



perish, unless the 

 pines happen to be 

 cut a way, when they 

 may take a vigorous 

 growth, and thus be- 

 come the principal 

 kind. The seeds 

 eaten by birds, and 

 dropped undigested, may take root at greater distances from the 

 parent tree. 1 



Distribution of Seeds by Currents of Water. 



127. Many seeds float readily upon the water while still in their 

 capsules, and some of them without, and in this way they are car- 

 ried long distances by rivers, and thrown up along the shores of 

 lakes. It is thus that the sand-bars and shores of our western riv- 

 ers are continually supplying an inexhaustible and ever-renewing 

 supply of cottonwood and other seedling trees, that may be easily 

 plowed up and planted at a small cost, upon the prairies of that re- 

 gion, and with much better chances of success than where cuttings 



1 A most interesting; article upon this subject, by Henry D. Thoreau, will 

 be found in the Report of the Board of Agriculture of Massachusetts, 18GO, 

 p. 11. 



19. Seeds of the English Maple (Acer campcsire). 



