FRUITS AND SEEDS 133 



wattle that make our river-courses so beautiful in 

 early spring. 



8. If you look at the rubbish that has been caught 

 from flood-waters by bushes or rushes, you will often 

 find fruits and seeds. It may be long before these get 

 covered by moist earth ; but many of our native fruits 

 are very hard, and these can wait for years for a chance 

 to grow. 



9. Sea-borne seeds. As to seeds that are borne 

 by the sea, I shall speak only of a fruit which 

 you know well — the coco-nut. You know the hard 

 nut and you have eaten the white flesh ; but not every 



one has seen the thick outer husk. 



This husk, which in many countries 



is used for scrubbing floors, is light 



and strong. When the nut drops 



from the palm tree into the sea, the 



husk enables it to float, and it is often 



borne to distant islands. When a 



Coco-nut shoTring ^^^w island is raised to the surface by 



shei?a"na'tS.wMte coral-insBcts, the coco-palm is often 



^^^^' the first plant to grow. 



10. Pond weeds and seaweeds. Many pond 

 plants throw off little green buds which float about 

 till they find a good place to strike root and become 

 new plants ! Still more wonderful are certain sea- 

 weeds. These sea plants throw off buds or seeds that 

 swim about with the help of waving hairs. After 

 wandering for a time, they moor themselves to a rock, 

 and settle down for life. 



