CARE AND PROTECTION OF THE FOREST 115 



in cold weather fog and rain lay a covering of ice on all 

 the limbs ; twigs and leaves of conifers, and frequently 

 even large branches are broken off by the great weight of 

 this ice. 



By selecting hardy kinds of trees for frosty places, and 

 by starting young growth either in the nursery or under 

 the protection of older trees the forester will avoid loss 

 from frost ; but, on the whole, he is rather powerless against 

 these injuries, which, in northern localities, do considerable 

 harm. 



PROTECTION AGAINST ANIMALS 



If we take a stroll in the woods during summer and 

 look for animals instead of trees, we shall see a few squir- 

 rels, perhaps a rabbit, and many little paths made by mice, 

 though probably few of the mice themselves. We may 

 also see a number of birds busily hopping and flying about 

 and finding food for themselves and their brood. But if 

 we sit down by an old stump, a dead or newly felled tree, 

 and begin to look for smaller things, we are soon convinced 

 that for every bird and larger animal we see dozens and 

 hundreds of the "little people," the insects. Troops of 

 ants are busily looking for prey, seizing any stray cater- 

 pillar, grub, worm, or other animal they can master, 

 carrying it off bodily or tearing it to pieces. Little hunt- 

 ing beetles go singly, exploring every crack and boring ; 

 and wee little brown beetles may be found boring in the 



