The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-06-21
Passed The 7reSshold
Continued from First Page

plants TO make the most OF existing
circumstances. Its curved, leaf-like
bract, TO the concave Of which hangs
"A bunch OF seeds. remains on the tree
until winter, then leaves ii in mass
floating off like tiny balloon. Reach
ing the earth it becomes miniature
ice boat and If, by chance, 1t should
reach the open waters Of stream, the
seeds are SO light that, though the leaf
fills with water the mass is kept
ahoat like a small feet.
Good examples OF the manner IN
which almost all of the water plants
distribute their seeds are seen in the
ponds where the seeds Of the yellow
water lily float about on the water,
The many seeds carried by the muddy
and swollcn currents after rain
storm are left TO grow on dry land
when the waters have receeded
gives us some idea Of the quantities OF
seeds distributed by this means. In
the same way seeds which have cover
ings sufficiently heavy to protect the
germ from the salt water find lodg-
ment on she distant islands.
Some plants disperse their seeds
without the aid Of either wind or
water or animals; by shooting on
their seeds with considerable force
When the pods of these plants are ripe
the valves coil and spring open quickly
and with such force that they shoot of
the seeds to a considerable distance.
Some plants have the power of re-
serving their seueds for an emergency.
The cones of the jack pines are so
constructed that but few seeds can
escape ar one time. These decompose,
instead of terminating if there is
much moisture The more moisture,
the closer the cone holds its seeds.
Such cones sometimes hold seeds in a
state Of preservation for years giving
them out for growth ON vacant and
newly burned land
In addition to dispesring seeds, some
have the power TO assist in the
planting Of them. The storks bill
which is quite common wild Hover
has fruits consisting Of a spherical seed
prolonged into a slender twisted stem
which ends in a long appendage set at
right angles to the remainder OF the
fruits. The spiral stem is very SEN
sitiye TO moisture and when moistened,
will untwist The untwisting causes
the long appendage to come into CON
tact with some obstacle which holds
it, The motion is then transferred
TO the seed bearing end OF which
now reyolves like al augur The
seueds weigt acrries it downward and
the lengtening of the ste causde by the
untwisting. forces the seed into the
ground. If the stem dres again it will
contract by coiling bristles on the seed
holds il in place and drag the the ap,
pendage down. Another moistenine
causes a repetition of the first move
ment and thel seed burrows deeper.
In observing the habits OF plants,
their method of seed dispersal is deser
wing Of close attention and IL is vas
field, which may afford interest OF I
most valuable nature. Through it We
learn that the vegetable world has /
life with habits as interesting rs tina
of the animal world and he who woulC
enjoy nature to the utmost must Il
various species IN this way plant
will become 60 MS something NOR
than mere objects Of beauty,
HUMOR AS AN ELEMEN on LIFE
Sarah Liholtv
Laugh and the world laughs witt
Won Weep and you weep alon
This poor OLD earth must borrow II
mirth II has sorrow enough Of It's own
Is not humor a great element Of SUE
cess in life9 donot speak merely g