Evening star., 1923-10-14
Upper Reaches of C.. e @. Canal
FairyIdrld for Nature Lovers
|LOcktender Predicts
Early Winter by
Signs IL, Woods.
Spell of autumn Is
OUer To,UPath and
Co!ored Thickets.
By JOHN l.. MARTIN.

The spell OF autumn is upon the
towpath. From Washington to Cum
berland a brilliant canopy of gold.
purple and crimson is being thrown
across the canal country. Hikers are
returning with glowing reports OF
gorgeous late flower yield. flaming
woods and an abundance of wild
fruits. nuts and berries.
They are returning. too. with dis
quieting reports from Charlie Stew
art, weather oracle of the canal, who
declares that all the signs point to
an early winter and a hard one.
Charles opinions command respect
among his neighbors. For years he
has been the sole occupant or lock
house No. IL. Here he has enter
tanned government biologists and
other scientists who have fuond the
upper reaches OF the Potomac fer
tile field for research work; and from
these officials he has acquired fund
of information. which. supplemented
by Shrewd observations, has given
him a local reputation as a reliable
Interpreter of the moods and pranks
of nature.
An early run Of cells this fall part
~ accounts for Charles weather
prophecy. Hornets and bluejays also
have entered into the prognosticator's
calculations. the former by building
their nests higher than usual and the
latter by exhibiting great activity In
hiding acorns
But the lock tenders belief that
old Boreas is casting coyetouS glances
in this direction principally is based
upon the fact that trees and plants
seem to be striving at an unusually
rapid rate to complete the work or the
growing season.
Coloring of Leaves.
When leaves start turning lit
tie ahead of the regular time. as they
did this fall" observed Stewart to
Washington acquaintance who passed
that way "A few days ago. "the old
theory that Jack Frost is responsible
for autumn coloring gets an awful
jolt. The old rogue is a good artist
when it comes to smearing the land
scape with white. but he doesn't pro-
duce the hues of September woods.
Not by a jugful! The trees themselves
paint that picture"
Then the sage of the towpath ex-
planned the process. The substance
that makes the leaves green in
spring and summer is known as chlo-
rophyle. and is employed in manu-
featuring starch for the trees nourish-
ment and growth. he pointed out.
season. this substance retreats to the
, trunk and branches for safekeeping
over the winter. Sap then flows into
the vacated spaces in the leaves. and
iron and other minerals in the sap
furnish the late foliage tints.
Now. you can put 1t down as prac-
tically certain he continued, with
emphasis. that, when the chloro-
phyle begins deserting the leaves in
advance of the customary time,
nature has passed along a cold wave
warning. The trees are taking no
chances on a premature frost cutting
off the leaves before the starch-mak-
ing element has been withdrawn"
Woods Like Fairyland.
Always a paradise to nature lovers.
the canal region never has been
garbed more alluringly than at pres
:nt, all accounts agree. Few cities
offer a better retreat to those who
would find sanctuary for an hour or
a day close to the heart. of the
wild-yet il is doubtful If more
than l per cent of the population of
the Capital ever has ventured into
this enchanted realm. .-
Romance ever has abounded there
1t was the romance of the westward
course OF empire that inspired George
Washington to suggest the building
OF the canal as national enter
prise. 1t was the romance OF a great
nation struggling to rehabilitate
itself after a long civil strife that