126 



PRACTICAL COURSE IN BOTANY 



ones, or the reforestation of tracts from which the timber has 

 been destroyed. Forests may be either pure, that is, com- 

 posed mainly of one 



FIG. 145. After the forest fire. 



kind of tree, as a pine 

 or a fir wood ; or mixed, 

 being made up of a vari- 

 ety of different growths, 

 as are most of our com- 

 mon hardwood forests. 

 140. Enemies of the 

 forest. The first step 

 in the preservation of 

 our forests is to know 

 the dangers to be 

 guarded against. The 

 chief of these are : 

 (1) fires; (2) the igno- 

 rance or recklessness of 

 man in cutting for 

 commercial purposes ; 

 (3) fungi; (4) injurious insects; (5) sheep, hogs, and other 

 animals that eat the seeds and the young, tender growth. 



141. How to protect the 

 forests. The annual de- 

 struction of forests by fires 

 probably exceeds that from 

 all other causes combined. 

 The only effectual safeguard 

 against this danger is watch- 

 fulness on the part of every- 

 body. We can each one of 

 us help in this work by at 

 least being careful ourselves 

 never to kindle a fire in the 

 woods without taking every 



precaution against its FIG. 146. Oyster fungus on linden. 



