248 OLD PLYMOUTH TRAILS 



that comes to maturity in the great cones of the 

 pine. Yet there are compensations for the pine 

 tree. Barring axes and accidents it may live out 

 its third century and yearly give more and more 

 comfort and inspiration to mankind as it in- 

 creases in dignity and beauty. The birch may 

 give comfort and inspiration too through its 

 grace and beauty, but it is lucky if it lasts out 

 a score of years. 



It is often a surprise to me to see how far a 

 seed will fly with but one wing. The air cur- 

 rents set it spinning the moment it leaves its 

 parent tree making of it at once a tiny gyroscope 

 with, a single blade of a propeller. Its gyro- 

 scopic quality steadies it and the whirl of its pro- 

 peller tends always to lift its weight. Hence 

 with a downward current it falls with a less ve- 

 locity than the wind which whirls it, in a level 

 breeze it often holds its own, while in the upward 

 slanting streams of air which flow so often along 

 and away from the earth's surface it rises easily. 

 The stronger the wind the more the whirl of 

 that tiny propeller tends to keep it in air and 

 with a good September gale thrashing seed out 

 of its cones a pine tree may be planting its kind 

 for miles to leeward. The seed that brushed my 



