The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-10-24

WILLOW.
tected from the scorching rays of the
sun, cold and lain, and not at all likely
to be disturbed by enemies. If he is
unable TO travel, the monotony of his
life Is often broken by the gentle mo-
ton OF his snug house as 1t is tossed
about by the wind. If Scesid's sur
roundings are such as are described
above, how long do you suppose he can
live shut up in d tiny dark room like n
hermit?
You have heard the story of the man
who suddenly found a large pile Of gold
| in a cave and gloatcd ever his riches till,
all at once, lie discovered that he was
alone and without the ability 10 es-
cape. He could not eat the gold, nor
was he able TO buy food with il. Al
though rich, he must perish by starvn-
ton. Scesid was more fortunate. His
cave was not supplied with gold, but
was lined all over with the incest kind
OF food. All he had TO do was 10 taste
and eat until satisfied, then lie and en-
| JOY it, AS lie ate and grew he needed
more room, and the room enlarged
much after the fashion Of the shell of an
oyster or snail.
The story Of Secsid may seem like a
fairy tale, but IL is all tue in every
| particular, as any observing boy or
| girl may learn, who has the opportuni-
| ~ and takes the pains TO examine
the heart-leaved willow or the Cam
adian golden rods from July to the
following spring. Seesid's mother,
whom he never saw nor knew, by what
mortals call 'instinct" bored n hole
with her own little nugur in the ten
DER tip Of the growing willow or tho
young stem Of the golden rod, and in
IL laid n tiny egg. The plant TO tho
left in the cut shows round bunch
in the stem OF golden rod bigger than
your thumb, and within such an cdd
thing may be found a tiny worm or
grub. The plant 10 the right looks
much like a cone OF the Austrian pine.
The pine cons bears seeds, the willow
cones bear small, insects. When ihe
egg was laid in the tip OF the stem
from which Seesid was to hatch, that
part OF the willow did not die, and
thus get rid of its enemy. as we would
suppose, but Immediately changed Its
mode of growth. The stem ceased
growing larger, and what would hnvo
become the long, slender leaves grew
broad and short, thick and close to-
gether, making for Secsid snug house
an inch and half high.
Isn't it queer that the willow. when
thus wounded, will Immediately change
the habit Of some OF It's buds 10 fur
nish lodging and food for It's enemy?
We do not know, but possibly in SINE
way, sometime, Secsid may do some
thing 10 benefit the willow. The will
low shouldn't be very particular about
il. for there are many uninjured
branches and plenty Of good leaves be-
sides the small number which grow
into cones.
Scesid eats and grows and moul;s to
full size. remaining dormant with The
willow through the storms ~ winter.
After the melting SHOWS have run into
the river or sunk into the soft earth
and the heat OF spring begins 10 revive
dormant buds, we suppose Sccsid be-
gins to want TO know more OF the ont
side world AS long as he needed IL,
the little room furnished food, but.
iatc in autumn. the cone hardened aud
died. Sccsid was comfortable and
doubtless rs happy MS lonely mites Gun
be. Ina his perfected new dress, supplied ),
with two guuze-liise wings and small
eyes. Seesid with his newly acquired
jaws tears doorway through the hard
walls. enjoys the light for minute.
and with confidence in his untried
wings leaves his little cone forever.
His new mode OF life requires food diff
fcrent from that furnished b. the old
home. Secsid seeks something glOt'
20 eat and companions Of his own lind,
and soon more eggs are placed In moro
young twigs Of growing willow. to pro-
duce more young Seesids.
Next time You see the bunch on tina
golden-rod stalk or the cone on the will
low, pull II apart and take look Mt tho
interesting little insect. Bces:d.---Chif
cavo Record