Fndts and Seeds 5 



noted by comparing thin slices of the fruit, taken at 

 various stages of development, and thus finding 

 out what summer has done to the tiny case which 

 was left behind when the flower fell or faded. 



But in shaping and coloring seed cases and seed 

 nature has had just one end in view — to prolong 

 the life and push the fortunes of the family. 



Next after the wind, the sowing of the seed 

 depends upon the good offices of birds and small 

 animals. Seeds which are to be sown by such 

 means are served up in dainty fashion, surrounded 

 with juicy pulp, and brightly colored lest they be 

 passed by. " All these devices," says Wallace, 

 " are evidently intended to attract animals in order 

 that the fruits may be eaten, while the seeds pass 

 through the body undigested and are then in the 

 fittest state for germination." 



The autumn hedgerows are beaded with ber- 

 ries, which catch the attention and please the taste 

 of birds. Many such berries have seeds small 

 enough to be readily swallowed, but too hard to 

 be digested. Thus birds have sown the elder and 

 cedar bushes which spring up on wild islands, and 

 they, too, are the sowers of the raspberry and 

 blackberry bushes growing along old logging roads 

 in the deep woods. 



Some fruits contain large eatable seeds, encased 

 in a very hard covering ; as is the case with plum, 

 peach, and cherry stones; some, like the apple, 

 pear, and quince, have their seeds enclosed in a 



