LIII 
THE LION’S TOOTH 
I SN’T IT ODD that the humble dandelion, hugging 
the earth, is one of the most efficient of all living crea¬ 
tures and one that is constantly extending its domain! 
Whoever has a lawn is likely to know the dandelion. 
It has traveled around the world and established itself in 
every nook and cranny. Examining the plant on that 
lawn, one finds a rosette of sturdy leaves flat on the 
ground. The lawnmower runs over it and does no harm. 
Man or beast may trample it to no avail. If it is cut off, 
it will grow again. Come rain, come drought, it survives. 
Upon examination its roots are found to be big, strong, 
and deep. They are able to dispute possession of the soil 
with all comers. 
The dandelion makes itself obnoxious to grazing ani¬ 
mals; so they do not eat it. If it is chopped off every 
month of the spring and summer, it will grow again. 
Sometime before frost it is likely to find a chance to burst 
into its yellow bloom and ripen seed. 
When its seeds appear, it does not have to depend upon 
any one for planting as does the apple upon the fancy of 
the boy who throws away the core. It does not need to 
coax the squirrel to bury it as the acorn does. The dande¬ 
lion puts wings on its seeds, and they ride away on the 
winds to new homes. 
The white globe of dandelion seeds is little less beauti¬ 
ful against its background of green than the yellow flower 
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