BEECH WOODS IN MAY 



21 



Narrows, rush over the rapids and at last pour 

 through the mill-race in a seething torrent. But 

 such are the ways of the "Little Indian." 



The ground was sandy in places and the sweet 

 clover had taken possession. Coltsfoot and dande- 

 lion filled the air with seeds and their bald-headed 

 flower stalks were everywhere. The young leaves 

 of coltsfoot covered every inch of space they could 

 get. Gathering these one after another I experi- 

 enced much joy by reason of their velvety surfaces. 



Down among the grasses and humbler plants 

 which throng the forest floor I searched for beech 

 nuts. The first thing I picked up was a notorious 

 little three-cornered thing which richly deserves the 

 name it bears, a "stink bug." Perceiving my error, 

 I gently put it down and 

 transferred my search to 

 another quarter. The next 

 thing I found proved to be 

 strongly attached to a vio- 

 let root, and I discovered 

 for the first time the seed- 

 pod of this plant. Later I 

 learned how the pods open 

 and shake out their seeds, 

 and found the cunningly 

 hidden underground flow- 

 ers by which the violet 

 makes assurance doubly 

 sure. But no beech nuts were to be found that day. 



On the bank among the coltsfoot and sweet clover 

 I sat me down and reflected. Above, an ambitious 



VIOLET GONE TO SEED 



