THE COCOA-NUT PALM. 
139 
when sown, mostly give plants exactly of the 
same kind as the one on which they grew. But 
it may happen that the new plant differs a little 
from the old one, and if it is better, it is taken 
care of, and young trees are reared from it. In 
this way we often improve our fruits, or leaves, 
or fibres, or whatever else we wish to get." 
8. '^Here is the seed," cried Fred, who had 
managed to crack the stone" which came from 
his mango. 
Yes," said his uncle. How well it was 
taken care of before you broke into the seed-box ! 
9. " The pulp clung closely to the ' stone or 
woody case, which you had to crack before you 
could get at the kernel. So you see there were 
no less than three different coverings — the skin, 
the pulp, and the 'stone'." 
THE COCOA-NUT PALM. 
1. I have heard of a boy who cut a drum open 
to find where the sound came from. That was 
not very wise of him. But I think it would be a 
good thing to saw straight through a cocoa-nut 
and its husk, to see just how it grows. 
2. First you find the thick, outer husk, made 
up of a mass of rough, brown fibres. Next you 
