ally the real leaves and the root are de- 

 veloped, and the plant can get food from 

 the air and soil. 



Many seeds are eaten by the birds 

 and other animals, and many are used by 

 mankind for food. The testa is often 

 developed into a very hard coat, as in 

 the nuts, which protects the seeds from 

 many animals, though not from boys 

 and girls. Sometimes the kernel is very 

 bitter or disagreeable to the taste. The 

 hard testa often serves in another way 

 as it prevents the seed from being 

 crushed. But the worst enemies of all 

 to the seeds are other seeds. Imagine 

 all of the seeds of a plant or tree drop- 

 ping down under the parent and im- 

 mediately taking root. Think how very 

 many would be crowded out as there 

 wonld not be space for all, and the weak- 

 est would surely die. Some would die, 

 not only from lack of room, but because 

 after awhile, when the plants became a 

 little larger, there would not be food 

 enough. 



So it becomes desirable for seeds to be 

 scattered in every direction. As soon as 

 the seeds discover this need, they begin 

 to look about for friends to help them. 

 (Grains, wheat, corn and rice, men help 



to scatter by planting them everywhere). 

 The wind is the most ready helper, so 

 the seeds set to work to manufacture 

 air-ships. If we remember the shape of 

 the maple seed, we will recall the long, 

 thin wing. The wind blows these seeds 

 about because of this device. Then, the 

 dandelion seeds and the milk weeds, how 

 feathery seeds they are ! And there are 

 other seed balloons which sail gaily be- 

 fore the wind. 



The seeds have pfessed man into their 

 service, flowering plants, many trees, 

 the grains, and many others are distri- 

 buted by intentional planting; but 

 others quite by accident. The cock- 

 burrs, Spanish Needles, and Beggars- 

 lice stick to our clothing and so get free 

 passage to many locations pleasant to 

 them. A more polite device of seeds is 

 to hide themselves in luscious fruit. 

 After the birds, man and the other ani- 

 mals have eaten the fruits, the seeds are 

 cast off, and so distributed. 



There are a great many secrets that 

 seeds have, some of which we can never 

 know. But there are a few that we can 

 discover by close watching ; so it is quite 

 worth while to be on the lookout for 

 new ones. Mary Lee Van Hook. 



THE PINES 



Outside my chamber window stand 



The pines, a 'gloomy row ; 

 A melancholy, brooding band. 

 Their ranks a guard of spirit land, 

 All secrets dark they know. 



Through countless slender fingers green 



The ceaseless breezes sift. 

 And nestling where the tops careen. 

 The moon shines out the boughs between, 



As through a cloudland rift. 



By hours I sit and search my soul 



To find, if there I may, 

 What mysteries the pines control 

 Which lie below the human shoal, 



So deeply hid away. 



— Frank Farrington. 



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