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April 14, 1983 - Some Subtle Spring SignsApril 14,1983 The Suffolk Times Some Subtle Spring Signs By PAUL STOUTENBURGH Overnight the rye fields in back have turned to a carpet of green. The willows down at the pond droop yellow -green stems and buds while the swamp maple has taken on its characteristic dark red hue. There's no stopping spring once it starts. Out on the flattened lawn the ground worms have shown their presence. Each night they come to the surface and crawl around looking for decayed leaves and other such material to feed on. They pull this material back to their holes so that in the morning the lawn is covered with little mounds of dried leaves and debris. Added to this are their droppings that in the great scheme of things create a high potency fertilizer to add to the soil. The holes they make help drain and aerate the soil. Never underestimate the lowly worm. Worms also make good bait for fishing and as every body should know you can get your supply by using a flashlight at night and being very quiet.Stalking along you'll see them above the ground on their nightly forage for food. Be quick for the worm is only a worm's length away from his hole and as soon as the light hits him he'll disappear down the hole before you. Of course, if you can't wait for nightfall, you can always dig a good mess out in the garden. That is, if someone hasn't overdone it with spraying. Worms once were plentiful in our farm fields and you could tell their abundance by the seagulls that followed the plow over the freshly - tilled ground. Seeing it is plowing time now, look in back of a tractor and see if you see any gulls. Like as not, they'll be missing. Signs of Spring There are so many obvious signs of spring around our homes, like the ftQM� oM MaQETq daffodils and forsythia that are out now. Yet we sometimes overlook nature's more subtle signs. The sap running in the tree pumping the buds with nutrient is not a glaring sign unless you are in maple syrup country. There this process has been going on since early March and is now in full swing. Look for smoke in the valleys from the fires in the sap houses. That will tell you the sap's been flowing. In my yard the broken limb on my dogwood tells me the sap is flowing for it's all wet down the side of the tree from the wound. Barbara and I had to go to Riverhead the other day so we took our grandson along. Robby and I were to hold down the fort in the car while Barbara went into the bank in the center of town. Well, you know grandsons, especially on a nice day -- we had to get out and check the river. The park area is a credit to the town and surely invites young and old to explore. So after checking out the river, Robby had to head across the bridge and into the park. The waterfall intrigued him and he made a beeline for it with granddad in close pursuit. After all granddad didn't want to do any rescuing in those still chilly waters. As we stood there watching the water charge over the falls, two men -- one with a net, the other with a bucket -- came Page 17 RED MAPLE - -One of the first trees to show its color in spring, the red maple can be found around wet areas here on Long Island. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh along. They settled alongside the dam where the water was boiling from the falls and started to sweep the net blindly through the water. In no time up came a silvery fish in the net that was emptied into the big old galvanized washtub. You can imagine whose eyes just about popped out of his head! This was worth coming up to see. The fish was the alewife that comes from the saltwater up into the freshwater to spawn each year. Years ago before man's alterations and pollution, every river and freshwater stream that entered into our waters had its own run of fish. Like miniature salmon they return every year to where they were born. Today there are few places left where we can see this miraculous migration. Planted deep within the fish an instinct as old as time directs them back to their place of birth after a year of wandering in our oceans. Here, too, in the cold waters that few see is another sign that spring has come and one I wouldn't have remembered if it wasn't for the inquisitive and exciting mind of a two-and -a -half year old. Rugby Payers Wanted MONTAUK - -The Montauk Rugby Club is looking for new players to participate in the spring 1983 season. No experience is necessary. Practices will be held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 6 p.m., Herrick Playground, Newtown Lane, East Hampton. For further information, call Mike or Kevin Bunce at 324 -2971 or T. Bushman at 267 -6182. April 14,1983 The,NeWs- Remiew: Some Subtle Spring Signs By PAUL STOUTENBURGH Overnight the rye fields in back have turned to a carpet of green. The willows down at the pond droop yellow -green stems and buds while the swamp maple has taken on its characteristic dark red hue. There's no stopping spring once it starts. Out on the flattened lawn the ground worms have shown their presence. Each night they come to the surface and crawl around looking for decayed leaves and other such material to feed on. They pull this material back to their holes so that in the morning the lawn is covered with little mounds of dried leaves and debris. Added to this are their droppings that in the great scheme of things create a high potency fertilizer to add to the soil. The holes they make help drain and aerate the soil. Never underestimate the lowly worm. Worms also make good bait for fishing and as every body should know you can get your supply by using a flashlight at night and being very quiet.Stalking along you'll see them above the ground on their nightly forage for food. Be quick for the worm is only a worm's length away from his hole and as soon as the light hits him he'll disappear down the hole before you. Of course, if you can't wait for nightfall, you can always dig a good mess out in the garden. That is, if someone hasn't overdone it with spraying. Worms once were plentiful in our farm fields and you could tell their abundance by the seagulls that followed the plow over the freshly - tilled ground. Seeing it is plowing time now, look in back of a tractor and see if you see any gulls. Like as not, they'll be missing. Signs of Spring There are so many obvious signs of spring around our homes, like the ffoQd� ow daffodils and forsythia that are out now. Yet we sometimes overlook nature's more subtle signs. The sap running in the tree pumping the buds with nutrient is not a glaring sign unless you are in maple syrup country. There this process has been going on since early March and is now in full swing. Look for smoke in the valleys from the fires in the sap houses. That will tell you the sap's been flowing. In my yard the broken limb on my dogwood tells me the sap is flowing for it's all wet down the side of the tree from the wound. Barbara and I had to go to Riverhead the other day so we took our grandson along. Robby and I were to hold down the fort in the car while Barbara went into the bank in the center of town. Well, you know grandsons, especially on a nice day -- we had to get out and check the river. The park area is a credit to the town and surely invites young and old to explore. So after checking out the river, Robby had to head across the bridge and into the park. The waterfall intrigued him and he made a beeline for it with granddad in close pursuit. After all granddad didn't want to do any rescuing in those still chilly waters. 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The fish was the alewife that comes from the saltwater up into the freshwater to spawn each year. Years ago before man's alterations and pollution, every river and freshwater stream that entered into our waters had its own run of fish. Like miniature salmon they return every year to where they were born. Today there are few places left where we can see this miraculous migration. Planted deep within the fish an instinct as old as time directs them back to their place of birth after a year of wandering in our oceans. Here, too, in the cold waters that few see is another sign that spring has come and one I wouldn't have remembered if it wasn't for the inquisitive and exciting mind of a two-and -a -half year old. Rugby Payers Wanted MONTAUK - -The Montauk Rugby Club is looking for new players to participate in the spring 1983 season. No experience is necessary. Practices will be held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 6 p.m., Herrick Playground, Newtown Lane, East Hampton. 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