352 



NATURE-STUDY 



The rosy-cheeked apple, the purple grape, and the luscious 

 cherry all are excellent eating — all but the seeds or pits. 

 These we throw away. Perhaps they will spring up some- 

 where. 



The attractive colors, the fragrance, the delicious flavor, 

 the edible pulp are all intended to attract animals to eat the 



fruit. The seeds are either 

 not eaten or pass through the 

 digestive tract uninjured. 

 Birds, especially, help to dis- 

 seminate seeds in this way. 

 . Along fences where birds are 

 ' apt to rest, we find grape- 

 vines, gooseberry, raspberry, 

 blackberry, elder, sumach, 

 hawthorn, red cedars, and 

 other vines, trees, and shrubs 

 that bear fruit. Squirrels and 

 other animals also scatter fruit 

 seeds and nuts. Many squir- 

 rels have a way of burying acorns and walnuts either 

 singly or in large piles. Some of these are pretty sure to 

 germinate. 



The burning-bush or waahoo is an interesting illustration 

 of a plant dependent upon birds for scattering its seed. In 

 the fall the bright red fruit remains on the bushes long after 

 the leaves have fallen off. This makes the fruit all the more 

 conspicuous. 



There are a few plants that do not rely upon the accidental 

 agency of wind, water, or animals to scatter their seeds. 

 They have devices of their own for forcibly throwing the 



Fig. 147. Explosive Pods. 



( Sweet Pea and Balsam.) 



