. DANDELIONS. 13 
The parent plant is not sorry to have them go, for 
this is what it has worked so hard to accomplish ; and 
as they float away, if it thinks at all, it no doubt 
hopes that each little shining wanderer will alight at 
last in a beautiful home of its own with plenty of space 
and sunlight and food for its growth. 
If there is not breeze enough to carry away the 
dandelion akenes, when night approaches or a storm 
gathers the careful parent plant does not allow these 
silky treasures to become soaked and spoiled by 
moisture. 
Each little plume shuts up again ! The silky tufts 
no longer spread out, and the green bracts, too, turn up 
and cover them safely as before. They go to sleep, 
hoping, no doubt, for better luck next day. 
There is no better fun than to watch the dandelions 
do these things. 
When children blow the heads of dandelions away, 
that is just what the dandelions want, for it sets all 
the akenes flying about in the air above the earth. 
The main thing for a dandelion seed is to get started. 
If it can get up in the air free from the weeds and 
grasses, it will be sure to take quite a journey and will 
doubtless settle in a new home. 
The bitter milky juice of the dandelion very likely 
protects it from being eaten by various plant-eating 
creatures. 
