128 
MANUAL OF NATURE STUDY. 
flowing in and destroying them. It also serves as a 
protective covering against frost. When thorough¬ 
ly dried off again, the first gust of wind sends the 
seeds whirling into space, some falling into good 
ground, where they are covered by drift, leaves, 
etc., there to remain until the sun reaches high in 
the heavens in springtime. Then what happens ? ^ 
But most of the seeds are picked up by the birds, 
or otherwise destroyed. Observe an ear of corn 
with husks remaining. Corn has been known to 
stand out all winter and endure extremely cold 
weather, and yet at planting time in spring, be 
chosen for the farmer’s seed. How is the ear pro¬ 
tected? How does the ear usually hang ? Would 
a farmer choose an ear that stands erect upon the 
stalk? Why? Why is corn that has stood all 
winter in the shock not good seed ? 
Notice the covering of seeds. See (1) of this 
course. Notice the oily nature of most seeds; take 
flax for an example. Unless seeds become soaked 
with water, frost will have but little effect upon the 
germ. Notice that cockle-burrs, thornapple, rag¬ 
weed, and almost all other weeds keep a supply 
of seed upon the stalk all winter, dropping 
them in early spring when dry, windy weather 
sets in. 
Of what advantage is that to the plant? How 
many have noticed sycamore balls persistent 
