MUSIC IN THE PLANT WORLD 
It would seem as if such a tree were trying to 
express many mysterious wonders of which man 
has little knowledge. 
The trees are not altogether dependent upon 
their leaves for their music. ‘The barren 
branches of fall and winter sing in a most at- 
tractive way. Their dry and discarded leaves 
litter the ground and carry on crackly songs 
of their own, or sing as they play tag in whirls 
of wind. The Elm is a pleasing autumn singer 
and the Willows, when covered with ice, rattle 
their twigs like a minstrel’s bones. As the win- 
ter wind hums around the Cottonwood Trees, 
it rocks the seed balls in their natural cradles 
with a sighing, crooning sound. ‘This is the 
way the Tree sings to her babies! When the 
wind soughs through a hollow tree, it produces 
a ghostly sound suggestive of a mourning or 
dying person. A current of air rubbing two 
boughs together causes a scrunching sound 
which sends the shivers up one’s back. 
It is reasonable to believe that every tree and 
plant has its own individual voice as set in mo- 
tion by the wind. A Nature-lover does not have 
much difficulty in distinguishing a great many. 
[115] 
