ON FIRST TRAIL OF PILGRIMS 81 



doubt the greenbrier was responsible for much 

 of this wreckage of Pilgrim habiliments. Most 

 varieties of this wild smilax, of which we have a 

 dozen or so in this country, are to be found in 

 more southern latitudes. But we grow here in 

 eastern Massachusetts commonly the Smilax 

 rotundi folia which climbs to tree tops, is as strong 

 almost as cod line, and is well set with vigorous 

 thorns. In the moist hollows among the sand 

 dunes this vine finds good sustenance, puts forth 

 most vigorous growth, and barricades gullies 

 sometimes with an almost impenetrable entangle- 

 ment of its thorny ropes. I have rarely seen a 

 tropical tangle which is more impenetrable than 

 one of these. It climbs and twines among beach 

 plums and scrubby wild cherry shrubs, weaving 

 all together in a dense matting. To Pilgrim 

 warriors fresh from English fields or Dutch 

 meadows this thorny wild tangle must have been 

 embarrassing indeed. Even without the green- 

 brier the rich growth of blueberries, high and 

 low blackberry, wild rose, bayberry and sweet- 

 fern may well have sorely tangled and tripped 

 their unaccustomed feet. 



