Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-08
NATURES COMPASS SIGNS.
How You Can Tell North From South
I'm Wilderness or Wood.

From Forest and Stream .-.'-
The many different methods to determine
the cardinal points while on the mountains,
in both heavy timber and small bush, or
upon the featureless expansc of a great
marsh, are exceedingly numerous and re-
liable enough for all practical purposes
during an everyday life in the nush. unless
very long journey is to be made, which
would require a number of days, and would
make it necessary to hold on very fine
point while making so long a distance.
We will first take notes on the coniferous
trees, pines, frs. spruce. cedars. hemlocks,
&c. The bark of these is always lighter
in color. harder and dryer on the south side
of the tree; while 1t is in color much darker,
is also danper, and often covered with
mold and moss on the north side. The gum
that ooZes out from wounds, knot holes
&c. is usually hard and often of beautiful
amber color on the south side, while On
the northern side ii remains sticky longer
and gets covered with insects and dirt
seldom drying out to more than a dirty
gray in color.
On large trees that have rough bark, es-
pecially during the fall and winter months.
the nests and webs of Insects, spiders, &C,
will always be found in the crevices on the
south side A preponderance of the large
branches will also be found on the warm
tSt OF southern SIDE OF the trees Also, the
needles of all the above mentioned trees
are shorter, dryer and of a yellowish green
on the southern side, while they will be
found longer, more slender and pliable
damper to the touch. and darker green in
color On the north side. The cedars and
hemlGeks. if trying to outdo the others.
always bend their slender tops of new
growth toward southern sky.
The hardwood trees are equally as COM
municative, and have all the characters
tics, so far regards their trunks. as the
coniferous trees, except the absence of
gums; but this is more than made up by
the fungous growth of mold and MOSES
that is very noticeable on the north side
of these trees.
The lodges of rocks. which may be part
OF stupendous mountains, or merely an oc-
casoLal cropping out here and there in
the woods. or. perhaps, some great boulder
alone by itself, silent witness of the gla-
cial period. all alike testify to the effect Of
light and shade. The sunny side will usual
ly be bare. or at most only boast of n thin
growth o. harsh, dry kinds of MOSES, that
will only grow when having the light;
while the northern sides will be found
damp and moldy, and often covered with
a luxuriant growth of soft, damp moses
that love the shade, while every crsvice
will bear aloft beautiful and gracefully
waving ferns.
The forest floor on the sunny side of
hills. ridges. clumps of trees. bushes. big
rocks, &c, is more noisy under the foOs-
fall than on the northern side of such
soft and damp, holding more moisture than
In places exposed to the light OF the sun.
In an open country nearly void of tim
Der. clurpS of small bushes during summer
will furnish all the conditions found to
exist among the leaves of the trees being
equally sensitive to light and shade as are
the monarchs of the woods. The landscape
green. with moving Sr;tsses and beautiful
to the eye. which feasis on the countless
numbers Of wild flowers. representing every
form and hue known in the flOwery king
Com, also furnishes Il reliable guide for To-
eating the cardinal points, most wild
flowers. especially the long-stemma1 varie-
ties. hide their faces from the north, and,
like the Suniiower, turn toward Il southern
sky. Large boul1ers. cumps of small
bushes, mounds and small hummocks-ail
testify, too, for the ground around such
places exposed to. the sun will be burned
nearly bare of vegetation. parched up
until of a d-ad-graSs color. while on the
shady side IL will be ioIni quite green and
often here there are growing mosses and
ferns of rare beauty. which thrive oily
where they have moisture and shade.