WILD APPLE TREES 97 



have not intruded upon them, but have let their 

 own presence slip quietly into the vacant places, 

 leaving the original proprietors of the spot un- 

 vexed. In this I see a new variety of city man 

 and woman growing up. A score of years ago 

 the advent of such a horde would have meant 

 more disaster than the winter's ice storms could 

 have wrought. Between these more kindly ad- 

 venturers and the pasture folk have grown up a 

 friendly intimacy which is beginning to teach 

 city ways to the pasture denizens. Therein lies 

 the cause of my surprise. Under the soft mists 

 of a cool May day I brushed the dew from the 

 wood grasses and unrolling croziers of cinnamon 

 fern to pause in admiration at shrubs and trees 

 bearing calling ^cards. Here is a red cedar an- 

 nouncing on a Dennison tag, "I am Juniperus vir- 

 giniana, known to my intimates as savin." Out 

 of its nimbus of pale yellow flame "Berberis vul- 

 garis" hands me a bit of pasteboard, and dangling 

 from a resinous bough is the statement that it 

 is "Pinus strobus" that welcomes me to fragrant 

 shade. Like many city manners which are new 

 to country folk these seem to be a bit obtrusive 



at first. Yet on second thought I find it an ex- 



i 



cellent custom which ought to be enlarged upon 



