148 NATITRE TEACHING. 



the seeds, each one of which, as we have 

 already learnt, contains a young plant, the 

 embryo. It is important to distinguish clearly 

 between fruits and seeds. Seeds are formed 

 from the oniles, and during their ripening cer- 

 tain changes take place in the ovary which 

 contains them resulting in the formation of 

 the fruit, The fruit therefore is the ripened 

 ovary and contains the seeds, the ripened 

 ovules. 



2. Fruits are very variable in character, 

 and, according to their nature, they are often 

 classified in various ways. Some of the differ- 

 ent kinds of fruits are distinguished by the 

 names in common use, for instance, berries, 

 nuts, pods, etc 



3. When the plant has formed its seeds 

 it is most important that they should be placed 

 in such positions that they may germinate, and 

 that the seedlings may have a good chance of 

 success. Amongst other things it is necessary 

 that they should be scattered to some distance, 

 for if they were merely dropped from the 

 plant on to the ground beneath, the seedlings 

 would be so crowded together that only a very 

 few would live. Many of the plants which are 

 troublesome weeds are so because of their good 

 methods of seed dispersal. In studying the 



