140 THE GARDEN OF EARTH 



For example, in a vast Pine forest, immense clouds 

 of pollen may be seen, swept along by the wind, not only 

 through the forest itself but far beyond, falling like a 

 fine golden rain on trees and grasses. Of such abundant 

 quantities only a few specks here and there may arrive 

 on the waiting pistil-tips of kindred trees ; few, that is 



CATKINS OF THE OAK. 



to say, compared with the tens of millions which drop 

 where no pistil-tips are waiting. They sink to the 

 ground, unwanted; useless failures, one might say. 

 The matter may, however, be viewed from another 

 standpoint. 



Suppose that only just enough pollen were manu- 

 factured each year to meet the needs of all pistils, not 

 allowing for failures. Much of it still would not reach 

 the right spots; and this would mean many less seeds 



