THE KINDLY FRUITS OF THE 



EARTH 



As one wanders along the autumn paths one 

 sees that the fruit is the concrete hope and ex- 

 pectation of the plant. One comprehends as 

 the light seed, borne on its silver wing, sets sail 

 toward the future, that all the life of the plant, 

 all its strength of stem and branch, all the 

 beauty and fragrance of the flower are but a 

 means toward the accomplishment of one end — 

 to increase and multiply. Finally, when the 

 embryo plant lies safely packed and stored in 

 the seed, the winds of the air, the currents of 

 water, the bird on the wing, the animal four- 

 legged or two, become the carriers, and as a 

 result the wingless fly and the feetless run. 



We think of autumn as the fruiting period of 

 the year, as indeed it is, but midsummer also 

 bears its argosies of grains and berries, and a 

 few of our native trees and shrubs fruit in the 

 springtime. The Elm, for example, casts its 



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