Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-19
TRAVELS OF SEEDS.
NATURES VARIED DEVICES FOR SCAT
TeRlNG THEM.

by Alinials and Water.
Nature has spared no pains to provide
for the pcrpctuation of living organisms
She j. prodigal, even apparently wasteful,
I'm her efforts 10 attain this end. Every
plant throws out yearly its myriads OF
seeds and no small part Of the machinery
adapted to mako this product fulfill its
mission is that directed to the distribution
of these seeds So effective is this machin-
cry that plants spread i'm fow years over
wide regions Witness the incursions Of
weeds like the so called Russian thistle,
against which tho efforts of the farmer
seem almost unavailing Tho means by
which this rapid spreading is brought
about are the subject of an article by Pro
fessor f. Muller in Der Stein der Weis-
en- g." Vienna, of which we translate the
most interesting portions:
Who has sent them (the plants) as
colonists into this new, unpeopled land?
Whence have they como and by what way?
If we call the roll Of the army Of colonists
that we may get an answer 10 this ques-
ton, we shall find especially plants whose
seeds can navigate tho air like miniature
flying machines, often for long distances.
All these belong TO the widely distributed
astor family (cOmpositH) or To tho nearly
related teazel family (dipsacc9) Their
seeds are furnished, To fit them for their
long sails through the airy sea, with
sort of parachute of soft, feathery flbcrs
The lightcst breeze raises them and bears
them in graceful sweep over field and
meadow, but the storm wind lifts them TO
the region of the clouds so that they fly
with tho eagle over hill and dale to far
and foreign lands Millions, TO be sure
fall 10 the ground without reaching tho
sought for soil but other millions fulfill
the end OF their existence, tho perpetual
tiOn and increase of their kind. Next to
the composite plants is the numerous mus
tard family (crucforH). Then comes the
pink family with its countless representa-
tivos and the plain looking grass family,
whose light seeds H. about hither and
thithcr as the stems are tossed about by
the wind
when "A summer thunderstorm bursts,
bending the strongest trees, or when III
autumn the wind rushcs through tho
woods, then the timc has como when the
plant children, now only slightly attached
to the plant mothcr-that Is the ripe seeds
that cling to thcm-arc torn away and
set out on their adventurous travels; then
they whirl and dance in the air, along
with thousands on thousands Of their fell
lows. Many rise high in air and sail on
the upper air currents far away; others re-
main in the tree tops or hang from the
branches; others still fail on roofs or bare
rocks many, too, drop on passing men or
beasts Chance bears few TO place where
their growth is assured. The greater part
must perish
After mentioning the various trees that
have winged seeds, such as the ash, maple,
etc Professor Muller goes on TO describe
peculiarly interesting plant belonging TO
this class-tho rose of jericho " He says:
The spherical plant, resembling birds
nest in the foreground, is the so called rose
of jericho (Anastutica hierochuntia), be-
longing TO the family Of cruciferp When
the plant approaches maturity, it forms
by tic bending Of its branches "a spherical
ball that carries the fruit within. Now
the dying mother plant is ready for its
journcy over the desert When, with the
help OF the wind, II has become detached
from tho ground, it Is rolled about IN the
storm, hopping and springing over the
earth, now lcaping over some rock that
protrudos from tho sea Of sand, now over
the bleaching skeleton Of some unlucky
wandcrcr Of the desert, all the time strew-
ing its seeds far and wide
There are also many plants whose
seeds, by means Of mechanical devices, are
hurled forth from the plant, as in the OK
alis family, the gcranium and many 9TH
Crs such seeds however can travel only
short distances. and that is tho reason why
We almost mover see the plants growing
siney, but in groups together Still some
times they are carried to great distances
by passing animals, and also by flowing
water
There is a large number OF plants
who.o seeds arc carried in the stomachs OF
animals and so mako long journeys.
Water also plays great part in the dis
trihutiCn Of plants, and in tho case OF
newly formed islands it plays the princi-
pal part
Who has not on an autumn walk
through wood and field brought homo
these littlc hangers on clngng TO his
clothes, or been Obliged angrily to FREQ
himself from the troublesome Instructions
while still on the road? Unwittincly he
has thus aided in the distribution Of these
plants, and, equally unwittinply, animals
carry the seeds in their fur and birds bear
them on their feathers whence they are
sooner or later dislodgcd The skill shown
by nature i'm the matter IS truly remark.
able These plants are mostly troublesome
Nt'ua NHlCH ono would rather see decay
and perish, but nature makes use OF US
against our wills to serve for their propa.
cation We arc like that strict professor
who, TO see that there should be no cheat
inS Ia "a written examination, went about
from scholar to scholar and thereby un.
Willingly aided them 10 cheat, for he car.
riod about with him "A placard bearing the
answers TO all the questions, which some
sly scapegraco had pinned 10 his coattails
In this connection the interesting fact
should be stated that very many plants
whose fruits serve 10 nourish neither man
nor beast have these devices for securing
the distribution Of their seeds In the case
OF plants whose fruits are sought as food
this very fact is sufficient security that
the sccds will be properly distributed -
Literary Digest
Cleaning Silver.
silver - fl,u,t.I ot 81,