The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-06-05
NATURES coMPAss SIGNS.
How II l. That the Woodman Il Able 20
Always Tell DlrcctIonA

The many different methods to
determine the cardinal points whilo
on the mountains. in both heavy
timber and small bush, or upon tho
featureless expanse of a great marsh
are exceedingly numerous and reli-
able enough for all practical pur-
poses during an everyday life in the
bush unless a very long journey Is
to be made, which would require n
number OF days and would make II
necessary To hold ON a very fine
point while making so long dis
tRnce.
We Will first take notes on the
ooniferous trees-pines. frs. spruce,
cedars, hemlocks, etc, The bark of
these Is always lighter in color.
harder and drier on the south side
of the tree, while II IL IN color much
darker, IL also damper and often
covered with mold and moss on the
north side. The gum that oozes out
from the wounds, knotholes, etc, Is
usually hard and often of beautiful
amber color on the south side. while
on the northern side IL remains
sticky longer and gets covered with
insects and dirt seldom drying out
to more than a dirty gray in color
In large trees that have rough
bark especially during the fall and
winter months, the nests and webs
of insects, spiders. etc. will alway:
be found in the crevices on the south
side. A preponderanOe OF the large
branches will also DO found on the
warmest OF southern side of th'
trees. Also. the needles of all th'
above mentioned trees are shorter
drier and of a yellowish green or
the southern side. while they viii
be found longer, more slender ant
pliable. damper TO the touch ant
darker green in color on the nortl
side. The cedars and hemlocks. a
if trying TO outdo the Others. al
ways bend their slender tops Of neN
growth toward a southern sky.
The hard wood trees are equall
| UNI nhNG 80 -
characteristics, as far as regard
their trunks. as tho cOniferous tree
except the absence of gums, bu
this IL more than made up by th
fungous growth OF mold and mossC
that is very noticeable on the mort
side OF thuse trees
The edges of rocks. which may /
b part OF stupendous mountains {
merely occasional cropping out heI
and there III the woods, OF perhaI
some great bowlcier alone b. itsel
r silent witness of the glacial p
: riod. all alike testify 10 the effect 1
light and shade The sunny 81,
!. will usually he hare. Or Al mo
/ boast OF thGn growth OF harsh. III
Z kinds OF mossee that viii only gro
! ! when having the light, while Il
q northern side will be found dan
and moldy and often covered with
: luxuriant growth of soft, dan
MOSES that love the shade, WIN
every crevice will bear aloft beaut
Is full and gracefully waving ferns
ir The forest door on the sunny 81
=. of hills, ridges, olumps of tree
O. bushes, big rocks. etc, IL more moi
g under the football than on q
re northern side of such places, whe
the dead leaves and litter are sC
!, and damp. holding more moistu
81 than in places exposed to the h6
n. of the sun
r. In an open country nearly void
timber clumps of small bushes dJ
10 ing summer will furnish all the &C
er ditions found to exist among {
2 leaves of the trees, being equal
sensitive to light and shade as a
the monarchs of the woods. T
'es landscape, green with movi
N: N: grasses and beautiful TO the ey
20 which feasts ON the countless nu
y bers of wild flowers, Representa-
every form and hue known in
80 fiowery kingdom. also furnishes
IsH rI9 reliable guide for locating the car
me nal points, as most wild flowers,
,. peoially the long stemmed varieti
hide their faces from the north al
like the sunfiower, turn toward
," southern sky.-Forest and Stream