In the Midwinter Forest 23 



pick out the juicy tender insides of buds — the 

 little leaves and flowers that are to be. Feasting 

 on these, they throw away the horny covering 

 scales, and we may see these scales, in late winter, 

 strewn over the surface of the snow. Many 

 buds of forest trees are also eaten by squirrels. 

 The winter sleep of the gray squirrel is but a 

 series of naps. He may be seen, on bright days 

 any time of the winter, stretching his legs in long 

 leaps, and looking eagerly about him for some- 

 thing to nibble. But the loss of a few buds is a 

 slight matter ; the trees owe at least these buds to 

 the birds, who have devoured so many of their 

 insect enemies, and to the squirrels who have 

 planted more oaks and nut trees than many schools 

 could plant in many arbor days. The squirrel 

 buries a choice morsel as a dog buries a bone, 

 intending to dig it up later. Sometimes he for- 

 gets the hidden treasure, or returns too late to 

 enjoy it. It sprouts and becomes a seedling tree. 

 It might never have sprouted at all but for him, 

 for acorns and nuts will soon decay if they remain 

 on the surface of the ground. 



Here and there, overhead, are dead branches 

 attached to living trees. Many of them will be 

 taken off by what is termed " natural pruning." 



The farmer cuts or prunes some branches off 

 his orchard trees, in order that the branches which 

 he spares may grow stronger and bear more fruit. 

 Wild trees get pruned too — by circumstances. 



