68 THE TREE BOOK 



We may read them at our leisure. We may also 

 learn many things by watching the trees from 

 May to November, as they ripen their seeds and 

 send them forth to find their fortunes. How 

 loth some trees seem to part with their trea- 

 sures ! It takes the blustery gales of March to 

 shake the last dangling fruits from the boughs 

 of the catalpa, ash, and honey locust. 



The maples, poplars, and willows, and many 

 other trees which grow naturally by the river- 

 side, prefer to launch their seeds in the spring, 

 when there is likely to be plenty of warmth and 

 moisture. If the little adventurers fall in a fa- 

 vorable spot, they settle down and sprout in 

 short order, coming on thereafter in such rapid 

 strides, that by fall they have grown several 

 inches of wood and are in fine condition to 

 weather the winter. A red maple by the garden 

 fence often rouses the gardener's wrath by 

 her prodigality in scattering "weeds." They 

 spring up everywhere. 



Few trees, however, are so happily placed. 

 For one seed that sprouts, there are multitudes 

 destroyed. They fall upon barren ground and 

 perish for lack of moisture and plant food ; or, 

 perchance, they get too much moisture and so 

 mold and decay ; they are eaten by the birds and 

 the little furry creatures of the woodland ; man 



