WILDWOOD WAYS 



be plucked by eager beaks some of these 

 seeds will not let go their grip on the 

 receptacles till spring rains loosen them 

 and the ground is fit for their sowing. 



Everywhere in wood and pasture the 

 numbers of seeds of plants and trees 

 that are thus held waiting the winter 

 gleaners are incomputable; nor will 

 these need to seek them on the plant it- 

 self, for little by little as the winter 

 winds come and go they will loose their 

 hold and scatter themselves about as we 

 scatter crumbs for the snow-birds and 

 sparrows. Here are the birches, for in- 

 stance, holding fast still to their wealth. 

 If bursting spring buds could be gray- 

 brown in color instead of sage-green we 

 well might think the trees had another 

 almanac than our own and that with 

 them it .was late April, for wherever the 

 trees are silhouetted against the light we 

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