Martinmas Summer 379 



see, in the centre of the larger branches, so that 

 the erring buds can only draw upon a few neighbor- 

 ing cells of the plant-tissue. When the ill-timed 

 growth has exhausted these very limited resources 

 it will cease, whether it is checked by the cold 

 winds of autumn or not. 



As for the young leaves, so rash and so " forth- 

 putting," Mother Nature recently tucked them up, 

 all snug and safe, to sleep till spring. 



As this summer's foliage falls we begin to see 

 myriad buds studding the boughs, and every bud is 

 a wind-rocked cradle for next year's baby-leaves 

 or flowers. 



The bare and silent woods are full of sweet mute 

 promises of spring. Beneath the purple scales of 

 the elder-buds we can find the blossom-cluster, 

 already perfect though it is no larger than a pea. 

 Next spring's "pussies" are formed and ready 

 in the large golden-green buds which stud the 

 twigs of the swamp-willows. And on the birch 

 and alder branches, among the little cones which 

 ripened last summer, are the staminate catkins 

 which will shake out their gold to the April breezes. 

 But all, if they be wise, will " lie low " till the sun 

 returns from the South. 



The tender spring-flowers which come in confid- 



