THE ANIMATE ENEMIES OF THE FOREST. 71 



VII. THE ANIMATE ENEMIES OF THE 

 FOREST. 



THE animate or living enemies of the forest 

 are : 



1. Plants. 



2. Animals. 



3. Man. 



In classifying the enemies of the forest as ani- 

 mate and inanimate, it should he borne in mind 

 that the animate enemies of the forest often call 

 to their aid the powers of inanimate nature. An 

 example of this is seen in the case of the destruc- 

 tion of forests hy fire, which are more frequently 

 started by man than in any other way. 



The influence of plants on the destruction of 

 forests is limited mainly to the natural struggle 

 which exists between the different forms of plant 

 life for the possession of the soil. There are, 

 however, many forms of parasitic plants, which, 

 growing on the tallest and most vigorous trees, 

 often in the end cause their destruction. 



A disease common in parts of Germany, called 



