New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-12

! Boy Along the path as yoG went oy
some knowing little seeds have made use
Of your legs to do their work for them"
But those are only burrs ami stick
tights, Dad, on my stockings"
only burrs and stick-tights-yes. But
as you went by they made you pick them
up and carry them along the path. so the
seeds in their prickly little bodies would
find a place to plant themselves at dis
lance II all seeds dropped right around
the parent plant how soon they would
I crowd each other out They must travel
for earth and air. and they have various
methods. Some go. as these fellows have
on your stockings. by means of men and
animals; some travel by water. others have
little aeroplanes and fy in the wind and
others have a jumping apparatus by which
they hop lust little way from their home
/ plant and then settle down.
We'll Dad plants nave more sense than
| gave them credit for and it's funny how
! these seeds seem TO know how to take
! care OF themselves" said the Boy, as he
bent over. industriously picking OF little
triangular stick-ughts.
Look Boy" said Father. and he rea-hed
little distance. picked hugh nilkweed
pod and broke II open. See these soft,
plumy feathers on these little seeds and
watch the wind carry them They ride
the air like fairies In a story book. And
when YOU blow dandelion head Aid YOU
ever think how you are sending the seeds
far and wide for new plants 70 grow? You
remember the mapleseed. with its mono
plane wing. ho7, - can whirl through the
cir"
Gee, but the seeds are well fxed for
travelling" said the Boy with wonder in
his voice
Further in the woods We found the chest
nut burrs and walnuts thick upon the
ground
Now. Boy. here's riddle Why is a
chestnut burr
TO prick a fellows fingers said the
BOY, with a pucksred face. for he had
carelessly picked W one Of the prtckly
specimens.
That's half the answer" said Father.
laughing: this is "A seed that SAYS plainly
as words that he wants 10 be let alone. He
is so good a morse that unless he put on
a rough and forbidding cover TO keep away
the hungry ones OF the woods he would
soon be devoured. But they soon drop him.
Just as you did. Now. this walnut Is smooth
enough on the outside. but his coat is so
hard that II protects him just as we'll as
the prickly burr OF the chestnut
Say. isn't it funny, Dad when you como
10 know about it. that every hing outdoors
means something"
yes, Boy. and flowers and plants talk
TO YOU lust as truly as people II you'll :
listen. Now you'll never see chestnut
burr again that you won't hear him plain !
" saying. Don't touch me- And that re-
minds me of something. Boy. | told you /
there were jumping seeds, and we must /
find the touch-me-not. Always look In /
sheltered place. away from the wind. for 4
this little plant. Yes. here we are, under |
these bushes Now watch. l am going to !
disobey the orders OF this touch-me-not and |
see what happens"
The Boy almost jumped. for as Fathers
finger passed along the plant the pod !
curled up and threw out its seeds.
THAT is one of the jumping seeds I told |
you about, Boy. The plant lives in places
where the winds cannot help the seeds TO
travel so they must have the power In
themselves to hop away and find place
10 grow in. Gather some pine cones and I
take them home, and when they are dry |
and the seeds are ripe they will do funny 4
little jumping dance for you, as the seeds
try to escape from their prison
Luncheon was due. and under the lea OF
a rock in the full, warm sunshine, we ate
our sandwiches and watched with delight |
the beautiful landscape so full Of gorgeous /
colors. /
We had tramped deep into the woods and |
we had too soon TO turn back But we /
found many beautiful things to take home /
and to think about. And when Boy went /
back to his nine-times-nine on Monday /
morning he could nos help thinking In be- |
teen times Of the wonderful happenings |
out in the woods. and that while the seeds /
were having their autumn trolic, hopping |
out Of their shells or sailing in the wind, !
boys must be in the stuffy house, learning 1
always TO put two ms in Immediately"