106 ELEMENTARY BOTANY 
observed (Chapter XII.). Whenever a fruit or seed is picked 
up it should be examined, in order to see whether it has 
wings, hooks, hairs, etc., by which it could have been blown 
or carried to the place where it was found. Then, secondly, 
the distance from the adult plant should be noticed ; some- 
times this is not great, but it may be a mile or more. Thirdly, 
the agent of dispersion should be observed, and it is often 
very difficult to ascertain this. Hazel-nuts, for instance, are 
sometimes found broken open and tightly wedged in the bark 
of trees some few hundred yards away from the parent 
tree. How do they get there? The seed-cases are generally 
empty. The most natural supposition is that an animal has 
been feeding on the seeds of the nut, but what animal? 
Probably some bird, and one might be fortunate enough to 
see the bird-and recognise it. At any rate, any book contain- 
ing observations on trees would be sure to mention that the 
Nuthatch is in the habit of doing this. The part that animals, 
especially birds, play in the dispersion of seeds is perhaps 
hardly yet fully realised. : 
Mode of Any special feature in the growth of a plant 
Growth. should be noticed, whether by underground 
stems, by creeping along the ground, or by climbing. If climb- 
ing, the organ adapted for this purpose should be observed, 
roots, stems, petioles, leaves modified into tendrils, ete. 
This often helps to indicate whether the plant 
is parasitic or not. Broomrape is whitish, so, 
too, is Toothwort. A plant with pale stems and leaves would 
in all probability be parasitic, although it must be remembered 
that semi-parasitic plants often have green leaves. 
Plants ina A list of the plants in a particular area may 
given Area. ye made. In this connection the nature of the 
soil, whether clay, sand, limestone, the height above the sea, 
the prevailing winds, should all be observed. A beginning 
may be made by observing accurately the plants of one’s own 
neighbourhood. Darwin recommended the making a list of 
the plants that grew in a particular field during the course of 
the year. His idea was that an exact plan of the field should 
The Colour. 
