98 THE HUMAN SIDE OF TREES 



mense, umbrella-like appendages of the palm serve 

 to drain and shade the tree. The five-pointed leaves 

 of the sweet gum prove quick absorbers of sun- 

 light. Trees of the far north, like the scrub wil- 

 low, often have tiny leaves which point down and 

 dispose of any ice or snow which comes their way. 



The "sneeze wood" tree of South Africa has a 

 unique way of protecting itself against enemies. 

 Its wood is light brown in colour, runs very close- 

 grained, is so hard as to sink in water, is bitter to 

 the taste and emits a microscopic dust on being 

 sawed or cut. No insect or worm will touch it and 

 men who handle it are continually sneezing. 



Sometimes the trees form business alliances with 

 other dwellers in the forest. Such species as the 

 pines not only provide shelter for birds and small 

 animals but furnish the straw to line their nests. 

 A hollow tree will serve as a home for hundreds 

 of wasps, bees or ants. All such creatures will 

 naturally take a proprietary interest in their dwell- 

 ing place and ward off the attacks of anything 

 which would injure it. Even frogs and snakes are 

 sometimes allies of the trees. 



There was once an elm which was terribly burnt 

 and scorched by a nearby house which got on fire. 

 All the bark and limbs on the exposed side became 

 black and lifeless. Every one thought the tree 



