CHAPTER XII 



HOW NEW PLANTS ARE STARTED 



In the morning sow thy seed. EOCLESIABTES xi. 6. 



109. A plant is born, grows, and finally dies, much like an 

 animal. Like animals, too, each kind of plant has a quite 

 definite term of life. A grain of corn may be planted in 

 May, and by October the plant will die. A turnip may 



start to grow in April 

 and live through the 

 second summer. Within 

 an apple blossom a new 

 apple tree begins a life 

 that endures perhaps for 

 a century. Many trees 

 of the forest live for 

 several centuries ; but 

 for each one, under even 

 the most favorable con- 

 ditions, a certain period 

 of growth is followed by 

 a period of decay and 

 finally by death. 



110. During its lifetime, each plant is busied largely in re- 

 producing itself in new plants. Its whole character is 

 adapted to the particular way in which it " propagates " 

 itself, or extends its life around it and into the future. 

 But man needs many kinds of plants in greater numbers 



160 



MILLET SEED. 

 By which the plant is " propagated." 



