io6 Conservation Reader 



How the little ones stretch up and grow tall and slender in 

 their attempt to get the sunlight ! But in spite of all their 

 efforts some of them must die. 



Some kinds of trees grow faster than others. Where a 

 number are springing up together, the slow-growing ones 

 will stand less chance of ever becoming great trees. In this 

 way the yellow pine sometimes chokes out the cedar, and 

 the fir gets the advantage of the sugar pine. 



The bright, warm sun is the enemy of the tree that loves 

 the shady hillsides. The swamp is the enemy of the tree 

 that must have loose, dry soil. The cold is the enemy of 

 the tree that is used to a hot climate. Is it not strange 

 that what is good for one tree is an enemy of another ? 



Many kinds of trees have their own particular insect 

 enemies which attack them and no others. Some of these 

 insects live upon the leaves, others eat the sapwood under 

 thfe bark, while a few attack the roots. Certain insects 

 burrow in and eat the heartwood. Although this does not 

 always kill the tree, it weakens it and makes the wood unfit 

 for use. The cedar and the hickory are among the trees 

 injured in this manner. 



The foHage of the broad-leaved trees is the delight of 

 many insects. They sometimes eat the leaves so closely 

 that the tree is killed ; for the trees breathe through their 

 leaves and can no more do without them than they can 

 without their roots. 



The gypsy moth, which did no great harm in its European 

 home, was brought to this country and accidentally set free. 

 It at once began to attack the leaves of the elm, that beau- 

 tiful tree of the old New England villages. Now it is de- 

 stroying other trees and, notwithstanding the fight which 



