GETTING AC^AINTED WITH THE TREES 



bear their bloom and fruit. These shiny seeds 

 or keys are brightly scarlet, as well, and thus very 

 attractive in color. There is a reason for this, 

 in nature's economy; for while the loosely hung 

 samaras of the other maples are distributed by 

 the breezes, the red pods of this mountain maple 

 hold stiffly upward to attract the birds upon 

 whom it largely depends for that sowing which 

 must precede its reproduction. 



Of the other maples of America — a score of 

 them there are — I might write pages, to weari- 

 ness. The black maple of the Eastern woods, 

 the large-leaved maples of the West, these 

 and many more are in this great family, to 

 say nothing of the many interesting cultivated 

 forms and variations introduced from European 

 nurseries, and most serviceable in formal orna- 

 mental planting. But I have told of those I 

 know best and those that any reader can know 

 as well in one season, if he looks for them with 

 the necessary tree love which is but a fine form 

 of true love of God's creation. This love, once 

 implanted, means surer protection for the trees, 

 otherwise so defenseless against the unthinking 

 vandalism of commercialism or incompetence — 



22 



