106 ELEMENTARY FORESTRY. 



thick and containing Paris Green in the proportion of one table- 

 spoonful of Paris Green to a pailful of the wash. If skim milk 

 is used in mixing the wash, instead of water, the material sticks 

 better. Trees that are gnawed badly may often be saved by coat- 

 ing the injured surface with grafting wax, blue clay, or other 

 similar material, soon after the damage is done, so as to prevent 

 the seasoning of the wood, and thus give it a chance to heal 

 over. Where the injury is close to the ground it should be cov- 

 ered with earth. 



The Pocket Gopher. Trees are sometimes injured by 

 pocket gophers eating the roots. Trapping or poisoning may be 

 resorted to, or bisulphide of carbon may be used to suffocate 

 them in their burrows. 



Birds. Most of our birds are helpful in various ways, such 

 as distributing seeds and in destroying injurious insects, and 

 such small injurious animals as mice and gophers. They also 

 add to the beauty of our woods and fields, and to our pleasure 

 and recreation. But some kinds are provokingly injurious by 

 eating the seeds we wish to gather, or by digging up newly-sown 

 seeds. Where they are troublesome on seed beds, they may be 

 kept away by covering the bed with wire netting, which will also 

 serve to keep away other animals. If only birds are trouble- 

 some, mosquito netting may be used, or the seeds may be given 

 a light coating of red lead and dried in land plaster or flour 

 before sowing. 



The sap-sucker does considerable injury to some trees by 

 making holes in the bark for the purpose of securing insects 

 which go there to feed on the sap. They are sometimes so very 

 injurious that it is necessary to destroy them. The Apple, Box- 

 elder, Maple, and most other trees, are subject to their injuries. 



Cattle. The pasturing of cows, horses, sheep and other ani- 

 mals in the woodlands is generally a poor practice, as these ani- 

 mals browse off many of the young seedlings, especially those of 

 deciduous trees, such as the Oak, Basswood, Cherry and 

 others, though they seldom eat coniferous trees. They also com- 

 pact the ground, and destroy many small seedlings by their con- 

 tinued tramping, especially when present in large numbers. This 

 is especially true of sheep on the Western forest reserves. Deer, 

 moose, elk and other similar animals are likewise injurious in 



