ISeed-Scattering 251 



that the children have no chance of thriving, if they 

 grow under its shadow ; and then again, if cross^ 

 fef / ilization be an advantage to the plant, even where 

 not absolutely essential, it certainly seems — from ex- 

 periments made in crossing Indian corn and beans 

 with plants grown some miles away — that cross- 

 fertilization with plants at a distance is more beneficial 

 still, the produce being in each case very greatly 

 augmented. 



Such, then, are the strong arguments in favour of 

 Nature's plan of scattering her seed far and wide : the 

 plants gain change of air and change of soil; com- 

 petition is less keen, cross-fertilization is promoted; 

 and, when driven by stress of circumstances from one 

 neighbourhood, they are able to gain a settlement in 

 another. 



By one means and another seeds are widely scattered, 

 and there is not a bare patch of soil on railway- 

 embankment or mountain-side which is not speedily 

 sown. 



At first sight it would seem that as plants are rooted 

 to the soil, migration would be impossible as well for 

 their offspring as for themselves ; whereas, in reality, 

 they are more migratory, and wander further afield 

 than most animals, though these are free to come and 

 go as they will. 



Winds, waves, birds, beasts, fishes, and even man 

 himself, are all pressed into the plant's service, and 

 made to act as seed-carriers. But in some cases the 

 plant itself acts, and acts alone, sending her seeds to 

 quite considerable distances. 



Many years ago, there was a certain bare, rocky 

 crag near Dunkeld, which the Duke of Athole desired 



