READING SIGNS 17 



a sort of life insurance plan that is most ideal. 

 Among the buds sacrificed, a few are kept dor- 

 mant, that is asleep for a year or two, waiting 

 for any emergency that may arise. If an acci- 

 dent cuts off the shoot above them, they spring 

 into action and carry on the business of that 

 particular branch, which is to keep itself ever 

 growing toward light and space, lest some envi- 

 ous neighbor outdistance it and "throw it in 

 the shade." 



Because of their craving for light, trees have 

 a tendency to grow straight toward the zenith, 

 no matter on what slope they may fiind them- 

 selves. Look about you for the crippled trees 

 — those bent by storms or partially uprooted by 

 accident. They tell some wonderful stories of 

 perseverance and fortitude, in their efforts to 

 attain the upright. A little study of the trees 

 in any region plainly shows the strength and 

 direction of the prevailing winds. Knowledge 

 of this enables the forester to make a compass 

 of the tree tops. The soft, tapering top-most 

 shoots of the pines and hemlocks, bowing be- 

 fore the breeze, are guides more trustworthy 

 than brass-buttoned policemen. 



All this is but a beginning in the interesting 

 study of sign language. One skilled in the art 

 says: "It has the fascination of detective 



