208 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



14th there are still numerous blossoms 

 and immature fruits, though we have 

 had at least two genuine snowstorms, 

 with freezing nights most of the time 

 for a month, mercury in one instance 

 falling to ten degrees Fahr. True, the 

 stems are now short, the blossoms hug- 

 ging the earth, and little attempt is 

 made to mature berries; but it proves 

 that the plants are ready to do their 

 part with half a chance. 



"Of the three varieties, Superb gives 

 promise of being the best late summer 

 bearer, the Progressive the most pro- 

 ductive in autumn. With these two 

 varieties I believe that berries may be 

 had every day during summer and 

 autumn until the supply is cut short by 

 freezing weather." 



Potato Balls in West Virginia. 



Littleton, West Virginia. 



To the Editor : 



In regard to the numerous articles 

 on the potato seed balls, 1 wish to say 

 that in my agriculture class this fad 

 one of my pupils presented me with 

 several of these balls — the hrst 1 ever 

 saw. I had always thought that the 

 potato balls were extinct, but my ex- 

 perience goes to confirm the statement 

 in The Guide to Nature that they arc- 

 still found in fair quantities in certain 

 communities. So far as I can learn, 

 however, these are the first to be found 

 in West Virginia for some time. 

 Yours sincerely, 

 Cleveland P. Hickman. 



The Lover. 



BY HARRIET REYNOLDS, UPPER FALLS, 

 MARYLAND. 



The little green moss, the dear green 

 moss, 

 That grows with the ferns by the 

 river ! 

 No one sees the pretty green moss 

 No one looks at it ever. 



They look at the river rushing away. 

 At the beautiful trees bending over ; 



I can always see the little green moss, 

 It is dear to the eyes of its lover. 



The little green moss, the fresh green 

 moss, 

 That grows where the brook is the 

 fleetest! 



There the phoebe has a nest for her 

 babes. 

 There the woodthrush sings his 

 sweetest. 



The little green moss ! The fairy green 

 moss ! 

 W here the waterfall plays a tune 

 It weaves the robes that the moon elves 

 wear 

 When they dance in the fidl of the 

 moon. 



The little green moss ! The kind green 

 moss ! 

 Around a pool in the innermost for- 

 est, 

 There is a safe retreat for the weary 

 feet 

 Of the hare, when the hunt is the 

 hardest. 



The little green moss, the lovely green 

 moss, 



With crimson berries dress'd. 

 The mother partridge knows full well 



Where her brownies feast and rest. 



The little green moss, the soft green 

 moss, 

 In the pine woods cool and sweet! 

 No queen has a carpet so rich and so 

 rare 

 As the one that it makes for my feet. 



The little green moss ! The evergreen 

 moss ! 



When snowflakes are fast flying, 

 Under the snow is an emerald glow, 



It is the little green moss undying. 



The little green moss makes the wild 

 woods sweeter. 

 And the grand blue sky above it ! 

 I thank my God that He made the green 

 moss, 

 And gave me the heart to love it. 



Overtones. 



I heard a bird at break of day 



Sing from the autumn trees 

 A song so mystical and calm, 



So full of certainties, 

 No man, I think, could listen long 



Except upon his knees. 

 Yet this was but a simple bird, 



Alone, among dead trees. 

 -William Alexander Percy in Contempor- 

 ary Verse. 



