90 



FIEST STUDIES IN PLANT LIFE 



be clear of the grass, and the wind whisks away 

 the winged seed ! How beautifully it is all planned ! 

 Even should the leaves chance to be eaten, the plant 

 is not killed. Fresh leaves come from the thick tap- 

 root. In this way, or in similar ways the plants of 

 the field and of the roadside live and thrive. They 

 can travel better than the fine flowers of the garden, 

 and many of them can be found all over the world. 



Fi& 6b 



Scotch thiBtle. 



Gorse seedling, sliowinff 

 how the soft thxee-lobed 

 leaf gradually turns into a. 

 spine. 



9. Plants guarded by thorns and spines. In 

 passing to-day through a close-cropped field, I noticed 

 that all the plants had been eaten close to the ground 

 except three — a gorse bush, a Scotch thistle, and a 

 sow-thistle. The soft sow-thistle was growing up 

 boldly through the leaves of the great Scotch thistle. 

 Many a cow had looked longingly at it but did not 

 dare to touch it. 



