OLD KAIL FENCES. 57 



ing within six inches of me, darted into a mass 

 of Virginia creeper which was matted against 

 the walls. He had previously dug for several 

 minutes in the mold at the base of a beech tree, 

 nosing or rooting like a pig between the inter- 

 vals of digging with his fore paws. 



How rapidly the old Virginia rail fences 

 familiar landscape features of a score of years 

 ago are disappearing. One may travel for 

 miles in places and see but one or two along the 

 roadside. What a change their final passing 

 will make in the fauna and flora of this region. 

 They are the protecting angels of many a form 

 of life. Within the angles of the one nearest 

 me grow the wild cherry, the red bud and the 

 elder. There, too, the wild raspberry canes wax 

 strong, bend over and protrude through the 

 cracks between the rails. The wild rose and the 

 Indian currant are also there as well as many 

 other shrubs and weeds which have escaped the 

 farmer's notice. There, safe from the keen 

 edge of his scythe, hoe or axe, they have 

 flourished into perfect maturity in the years 

 that have gone by. In places the wild grape or 



