The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-03-08

oNSN9i ilAG DIueOtdIu WIVES tea
up by the hair. As these dry they
separate from their fastenings and
lmbrication. Hitherto they have
overlapped like the scales of a fish.
Now, each thin, fiat seed is Of a
rich brown color, with its silky
coma, floats off into the air. The
willow herb, or fire weed, acts
IN much the same manner.
The observer is surprised when
he first discovers that in many
cases the balloon is empty. The
passenger has taken but a short
voyage and then dismissed the
airy chariot. The object aimed
at appears to be, not necessarily
far distribution of the seed, but a
carrying of it outside the direct
home surroundings pretty good
lesson for parents. Let us, "says
the plant, give our youngsters a
fair chance i'll new field. If they
have stuff in them they will aban-
don our dogma and prejudices. "
But, as we have limited, the bal
loon is not the only way in which
plants travel by air. It is no un-
usual thing to find a fruit or seed
fitted with wings-like Icarus of
old. Anyone will at once recall
such cases, the pretty fairy oar
blade of the ash; the narrowly
eliptical scale of the ailanthus, Of
ten brilliantly painted; the round,
notched, silver penny of elm and
hop-tree (Piela trifoliata); the
clock keys of maple and box-elder
CNegundo aceroidei) and the
tluked propeller of linden. The
latter is the perpetual delight of
plant lovers, as it whirls in spiral
gyrations through the air. Here
IS a propeller motion far antece-
dent to the screw steamer.
Sometimes these wings serve two
! purposes: first for aerial naviga-
ton; secondly, as a sail to propel
the voyager if he takes to the
water. Our own airships have ad-
opted the suggestion. To assist
his buoyancy in such situation,
real life-preserver of cork is in son
cases placed around his midi.
Witness the needs of dock ,and
many fruits Of the parsley family.
This naturally leads us tot con
slider the canoe travellers, SUCH as
the fruits of many sedges, iR their
bladder-like sacs, and ordinary
berries ofmany kinds. Tceal has
shown how many seeds, H. Ike those
of water plantain or ofvafious Der
rles, will sink when Invested of
their feshy covering. Let this dry,
as in the rose-hip, and it will serve
as a raft or float. Not a few pods,
like those oflocust with us, or the
Entado scandeus Of the tropics,
exhibit bulkheadsl and water-tight
compartments. If the plant ship
meet with catastrophe by stream
one or more compartments may re-
main Water-tight; one passenger at
least may escape TO found a colony.
In opening cranberries every
body has wondered at the large
air spaces, four in number. The
purchaser think perhaps here is a
case of Fraud he should have it
filled with edible pulp. The plant
IS like other folks, looking out for
NUMBER one. The air spaces aid
materially in floating the berry.
Many plants are tramps by ma
ture; even those or noble origin
will steal a ride when opportunity
offers. For this purpose they will
carry a diversity ofhooks, grapnels
and the like. Think how many of
these there archie hooked burs
of dock, the two-toothed achene
Of beggar's tricks, the prickly pods
enchanter's nightshade and gal
ium, the adhesive nullets of
hounds tongue, the cockle-bur,
bur grass, and the plaguy joints of
tick trefoil. The last are pieces
Of pod, which breaks up and
leaves the segments adhearing to
ones clothes.