How Nature Plants the Tree 51 



of many sizes and shapes. When they are ready 

 to leave the tree they all in some way reach the 

 ground below, and in some way each tiny seed 

 seeks to find itself a place to grow. How they 

 leave the mother tree and reach their new home 

 is an interesting story. 



There are some seeds so light that when they 

 are ripe it is very easy for the wind to pick them 

 up and help them on their way, sometimes carry- 

 ing them for many miles. Look at the seed of a 

 sugar maple, and you will see that it is very light, 

 though large. There is a little body or nut in the 

 center, and on each side a small wing, as if it 

 were really meant to fly. The ash and birch 

 among the hardwoods, and the evergreen trees, 

 spruce and pine, have small winged seeds that 

 travel lightly on the wind. With the basswood, 

 a part of the leaf falls with the seeds, and, 

 like a kite, carries them far from the parent 

 tree. 



Toss up in the air a seed with wings. It circles 

 around, falling slowly to the ground. If there 

 is any wind the seed will finally come down far 

 from where you threw it up. Now tear the wings 

 from the same seed, and throw it up once more. 



