PLANTS THAT ARE ATHLETES 81 
branches of the witch-hazel and keep them in a vase 
for a few days. 
There are many skilled aeronauts among the 
plant athletes. They have been working and ex- 
perimenting for ages in perfecting their magnifi- 
cent airships. So skilled are they and so far ad- 
vanced in the art of flying, that their balloons, kites, 
parachutes, and airships are being studied and imi- 
tated by man. These unique airships are designed 
with marvellous skill. Among the dandelions, 
goldenrods, asters, and thistles, are, perhaps, the 
most perfectly devised airships. When the tiny 
seeds of these plants are ready to go out into the 
world, each has a ship of its own by means of which 
it may navigate the air. 
The fruits of the maple, elm, pine, and ash are 
prepared for sailing from high elevations—the 
tree-tops. They do not, as a usual thing, travel 
for very long distances, but are apt to light fairly 
near the parent tree. Thus these trees are quite 
- often found in large groups, like the pine forests. 
The fruit of the elm is placed in the centre of its 
airship, and as it floats to the ground it seems to 
hesitate before alighting, like a butterfly, or an in- 
sect-hunting sparrow, as though it were trying to 
decide if this were a choice spot for landing. 
There are certain airship plants, like the bladder- 
