1278 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



bee I had ever observed. He examined flower after 

 flower, many he rejected without opening them, in some 

 he remained only an instant, but in one he stood on his 

 head for fifteen seconds. Why does his tribe ignore the 

 inviting flowing wells of the milkweeds and work labor- 



iMm^f^ymu 



OPEN GROVE OF BUSHY RED CEDAR ON SHEEP MOUNTAIN IN THE BAD LANDS 



The seeds of the red cedar are planted by the birds. 



iously on such difficult flowers as clovers and lobelias 

 and the refractory closed gentians? And why does not 

 this flower open like other gentians? Are the perma- 

 nently closed flowers only a device to keep out feeble un- 

 bidden guests, or do they also serve to exclude dew, 

 rain and frost, which might injure the delicate floral 

 organs inside? 



We all know trees and other plants by their leaves, 

 which in shape, size and position display endless variety. 

 Is there a meaning to all the dif- 

 ferent shapes and positions, .or 

 are some of them just accidents 

 that have no meaning? 



In general it may be said that 

 each plant has evolved or is try- 

 ing to evolve that shape, size or 

 position of foliage, which serves 

 best under its special environ- 

 ment to intercept the most fa- 

 vorable amount of sunlight and 

 to regulate best the absorption of 

 carbon dioxide from the air and 

 the evaporation of water into tlie 

 air. But why have nearly all the 

 oaks adopted the lobed pattern of 

 foliage as their own, while the 

 large pea and bean family almost 

 unanimously favor the jMnnate 

 or divided form? The maples 

 all adhere to their well-known 



family pattern, and no conifer departs from the needle- 

 shaped foliage of pines and spruces. 



Certain plant structures and substances are evident- 



ly produced for protection against specific dangers. 

 Cattle will not allow young hazel, oak and most other 

 trees and shrubs to survive in a pasture, but the thorn- 

 aj)i)le bushes will flourish because their sharp thorns 

 keep away the browsing cattle. 



There is a certain tree, the 

 honey locust, which I venture to 

 say no boy has ever climbed, al- 

 though the tree is common and 

 well known from New York to 

 Illinois and from Texas to On- 

 tario. Around the trunk most 

 formidable, branched thorns 

 stand out, some reaching almost 

 two feet in length with the thick- 

 ness of a man's finger. The lo- 

 cust trees and their relatives have 

 a tendency to run to thorns. Do 

 the murderous looking thorns, 

 set like bristling bayonettes 

 around the trunk, perform a 

 useful function, or are they 

 merely a case of a family trait 

 run riot ? Perhaps they keep 

 opossums, raccoons and bears 

 from climbing the trees and de- 

 vouring the sweet seed-pods, but I have had no oppor- 

 tunity to prove this surmise. 



Each plant or family of plants produces certain sub- 

 stances which possess a characteristic taste and odor and 

 other generic qualities. 



Practically all the orchids of the world contain a sap 

 of an odor and taste so characteristic that a blind person, 

 with his hands tied, might distinguish orchids from other 

 plants by using only his sense of smell and taste; but 



SCRUBBY WHITE PINE ON ROCKY ISLAND OF LAKE OF THE WOODS 

 A most attractive spot, and well patronized by vacationists. 



thus far no botanist has discovered the meaning of 

 the peculiar fluid of the orchid family. 



All the conifers of the world produce rosin or pitch. A 



