Fig. 101
Only a few plants have more than two of these seed leaves. The pine trees are among these few. This picture (Fig. [100]) shows you a baby pine tree, still cradled in its seed, surrounded by baby food; and the next one (Fig. [101]) shows you the pine just starting out in the world, with its six seed leaves.
When you study the botany that is written for older people, you will find that plants are set apart in separate groups, according to the number of their seed leaves.
Strange though it may seem to you, plants with but one seed leaf have certain habits that you will not find in a plant with two seed leaves; and a plant with two seed leaves, long after these have passed away, will show by root and stem that it had more than one seed leaf.
In your schoolroom garden I should like you to grow side by side, first a plant with but one seed leaf, next a plant with two seed leaves, and lastly a plant with more than two.
SEEDS AS FOOD
I want you to think for yourselves why it is fortunate for us human beings that many plants store away in their seeds so much baby food.
“Because without this the little plants would die, and we should have no new plants to make the world beautiful to live in,” some child replies.