Page 20 Advertisements Column 2

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1928, Page 20

WHY THE BEAN JUMPS. You have, heard of the jumping bean, haven’t you ? Actually, of course, it is not the bean that jumps, but the little insect hidden inside the pod. In the Mexican swamps there grows a tree which bears flowers first, then a queer three-cornered, fruit divided into three parte something like little pods. When the flowers are in bloom, an insect visits them and in one part of each she lays an egg. This part of the flower glows with the rest, and when the petals fall the seed-pods form. The seed is ripe in August and then the husk containing all three pods falls to the ground and splits into three parts. But only in two of the pods is seed to be found; the third is the home of the tiny worm which has hatched out of the egg. Strange as it may appear, this little worm knows it is dangerous to remain on the ground under the tree, to fall prey to its enemies or to be trodden underfoot. So it coils itself up and then lets itself go again like a catapult, jumping away and carrying its pod with it. It keeps on jumping till it is out of danger, and continues all through the warm weather. Only when the weather is cold does the 'bean cease to jump for then its occupant is sleeping. If I had a. cottage, I'd trim it myself JVith hearth-rugs and pictures and jip*“