The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1894-09-21
offer no attractions to the invaders by

OhSi ho IlidStiOIlS W tIlc lIlNtuelS ny
another year, owing to their changed
conditions. The rule as laid down
by the West Virginia Agricultural
Bulletin is:
"Take the bark from all logs and
felled trees cut between October and
April l, that will have to lie more
than one month after the latter date
before being converted into lumber,
and from all cut between April /
and October, unless they can be
made into lumber Immediately after
the trees are felled."
1t might be added that stumps,
strippings, and other rubbish of the
logging camp, or the clearing, should
be burned us soon us possible, for
the sake of the living trees in their
vicinity. Adherence to these simple
rules would save our country millions
of dollars worth of timber every year,
by preventing its destruction or
deterioration.
Among other methods that have
been suggested is the fostering and
multiplication of friendly birds that
are known to feed on the hostile
insects. These allies arc especially
valuable in warding off those forest
pests that are known to attack grow
ing trees. No one can doubt that
the woodp eckers, for instance, obtain
a large share of their food from the
insect world. But, on the other hand,
it is asserted that the woodpeckcrs
fail to discriminate between pcrnici-
Gus insects and their parasites. 1t
has been determined that the Clcrid
beetle is the worst enemy of the
European bark beetles, and also that
the woodpcckcr is the greatest foe of
the friendly Clcrid. But, after all,
the conviction is firm in our minds
that the birds are among our best
friends as insect destroyers, and ought
accordingly to share our protection.
Their mission in the economy of
nature is to thin the ranks of Il vast
army by which, without their aid, we
should be overwhelmed, and our for
csts would be hopelessly ruined.
Some highly suggestive facts have
been brought to light by recent inves-
LEGATIONS as to the conditions of wood
resulting from the work done by the
Columbian timber beetle. 1t seems
that this insect prefers to attack the
healthy sap wood of living trees,
where it cxcavates its galleries and
develops its brood without affecting
the vitality of the tree. The result
of it's attack on the oak, birch, tulip,
and other trees is of economic inter
est. The wound made stains the
wood above and below it. In white
oak the stain extends only a few
inches, while in tulip trees the stain
may be several feet in length. The
stained wood is not unsound, nor is its
quality impaired even for century
or more. The stained is caused by a
colorcd liquid proceeding from the
wound made by the beetle, and is fully
Effected within twelve months. Singu-
larly the result does not GLOW the
wounding of dying trees, even when
their wood is sound; which shows
that the movement of the sap pro-
notes the spread of the coloring
matter.
The observations made by Mr..
Hopkins as to the habits of the
woodpccker, commonly called the sap
sucker (Picus pubcsccns), have con-
vinccd him that he pccks the bark
altogether for the sap. The pune
lures thus made at different stages of
the trees growth correspond to the
succession of elevations and dcprcs-
sions visible in the annual layers of
wool. This is the cause of the beau,
titul birds eye poplar. fla lumber
man wants it, let him select logs
whose bark shows the most work
done by the sapsucker.
Possibly the birds-cyc maple is
due to the same cause. At least it is
well known that the sapsuckcr is
extremely fond of the sap of sugar
trees, whose bark it picrccs by mum
crous rows Of holes for the purpose.
a single bird has been known to
make a hundred punctrcs in the
same tree in one season. Sometimes
this wounding causes decay. But if
otherwise, it is possible that the heal
cd cicatriccs are what make the curly
maple. The subject is certainly OF
sufficient interest to demand further
invcstigatiOn.-Bl II. c. IOvEY in
Scientific Ameyican.