THE NOVEMBER WOODS 



217 



THE SYCAMORES NOW PRESENT AN INDI- 

 VIDUALITY NOT NOTED AT OTHER SEASONS. 



not in leaf, and coming as it does when 

 most of the other blooms have gone, 

 gives us the more reason to delight in 

 it. We must see it this month to ap- 

 preciate it, as it will not last long, and 

 when the winter snows cover the 

 ground the witch hazel sheds its bloom 

 and again becomes as inconspicuous as 

 its companions. 



A few bright-colored leaves still 

 linger on the low bush blueberry, 

 though most of the shrubs have lost 

 their foliage and the ferns and brakes 

 are brown and sere. Coming, however, 

 to the rocky hillside sloping down to 

 the swamp we find great clumps of the 

 polypody or rock fern. This is per- 

 haps our hardiest fern and remains 

 green and attractive throughout the 

 winter. Many of the marginal shield 

 ferns scattered about among the poly- 

 podys are also still green and fresh 

 looking, and make such attractive set- 



tings and groups, — surrounded by 

 green mosses of several varieties, — 

 that one might well imagine it to be 

 the beginning instead of the end of the 

 growing season. Nearby in the swamp 

 may also be found the Christmas fern 

 — a similarly hardy variety whose long, 

 erect fronds present some splendid 

 groups. Later in the season this fern 

 is inclined to lie prostrate upon the 

 ground, although it continues green 

 and well preserved through the winter 

 months. Mosses and lichens may be 

 found in abundance on the rocks and 

 trees, and this is a good season to 

 study them. They present some truly 

 beautiful aspects when examined under 

 a microscope, — or even a pocket mag- 

 nifying glass, — and are well worthy of 

 a closer study. 



It is of interest to note how the dif- 

 ferent ttees and shrubs spend the win- 

 ter too. The white pine — our noblest 

 forest tree — preserves its dignity at all 

 seasons, but is perhaps especially no- 

 ticeable now, having spread at its feet 

 a thick, soft carpeting of its own mak- 

 ing, and we cannot help noticing the 

 invigorating fragrance as we pass 

 through the grove. The gray beech 

 and the white oak still retain their 

 leaves, holding them, — especially many 



CLUMPS OF BARBERRY MAKE PICTTTRESOUE 

 THE BORDERS OF THE OLD PASTURES." 



