162 THE NATURE AND WORK OF PLANTS 



germinated in the spring, the plantlets 

 may endure the summer out of doors in 

 almost any part of the United States. 



The cocoanut has its original habitat 

 in the Eastern hemisphere, but now 

 occupies the tropics around the globe. 

 This wide distribution has been secured 

 by the agency of wind and water, and 

 by the attractive power of the food, 

 stored up in the endosperm, for tribes of 

 savage and civilized men. 



212. The date. — The fruit of the commercial date 

 may be easily obtained, and used to illustrate the 

 action of the fruit of a second palm. 



Secure a few dozen dried dates, such as are sold 

 by grocers and confectioners, and place a dozen in 

 the soil in a pot kept at a temperature about equal 

 to that of a comfortable living room, three or four 

 weeks before the observations are to be begun. 

 Strip the fleshy part of the fruit of a second dozen 

 and put in a second pot and place with the first. 

 This will show whether the edible flesh is of any 

 benefit in the actual process of germination. Soak 

 another lot in water for two weeks for dissection. 



