QUERCUS ALBA 



the little seedlings far out in the 



clearing. Near at hand was a clump 

 of pines, and, whirling in the wind 

 as they fell, came showers of dainty 

 cones. A great hard maple added 

 its quota of feathery seeds. Squir- 

 rels and birds, unconsciously aiding 

 Nature's scheme of distribution, 

 when they fancied they were only 

 selfish in the labor, added and scat- 

 tered other seeds until every tree 

 in the surrounding forest was rep- 

 resented in that nursery battle-field, 



20 



