MEN OF THE TREES 



think of a good deed. In two hours the sun will go down 

 and so far we have been unable to think of a good deed 

 to do. Please help us." 



I was nonplussed. The sincerity and genuine belief of 

 those whom I had set on the way, demanded encourage- 

 ment; they were intent upon doing something very def- 

 inite there and then before sunset to help the cause for 

 which they had volunteered. 



Some months previous to this I had been carrying out 

 extensive experiments with a view to discovering how 

 that most valuable species, Muturakwa, juniperous pro- 

 cera, could be germinated. It appeared that there were few 

 pure forests growing gregariously over any extensive 

 area. I had given considerable time and thought to the 

 solution of the problem of perpetuating this valuable 

 tree. For many years my department had endeavoured to 

 regenerate this species but so far their repeated efforts 

 had met with almost complete failure. When sown in 

 the nursery, not more than five percent of the seed had 

 germinated. After three months' research in the forests, 

 during which time I accumulated a vast amount of data, 

 I had noticed places where clusters of Muturakwa seed- 

 lings were springing up thickly around the brown olive 

 trees. At times I would find an old olive tree from whose 

 roots had sprung a fine Muturakwa. Then it was I 

 noticed that pigeons were feeding on the fruit of the 

 Muturakwa and perching at night on the branches of the 

 olive trees. Probably the branches of the Muturakwa 

 were too rough for their little feet. It seemed that they 



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