HOW SNOWFLAKES ARE MADE 
     
    
   
   
    
     Contrary to popular belief, snow is not made up of frozen raindrops. 
     
     Instead it develops from particles of water vapour which have been 
     
     transformed directly into crystals without first going through the liquid 
     
     stage. Snow crystals can form only when the temperature at which the air 
     
     becomes saturated with moisture is lower than 0° C. Each snowflake 
     
     initially consists of a tiny six-pointed crystal but once formed, flakes 
     
     may increase in size by combining with other crystals. Large snowflakes 
     
     normally form only when the temperature is not too much below freezing, 
     
     never at very low temperatures. While snowflakes are falling downward 
     
     to the ground, they may jostle and bump against each other causing some 
     
     of the crystals to be damaged. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Snow is a valuable resource in our northern climate. The snow which 
     
     accumulates during winter is an important source of melt water needed to 
     
     replenish the spring water table. Snow cover also serves as an excellent 
     
     insulator, reducing heat loss from the soil and preventing frost from 
     
     penetrating too deeply into the ground. Lack of snow cover can result in 
     
     considerable damage to crops like red clover. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Some wildlife species rely on snow for winter survival. Mice 
     
     construct subnivian (under the snow) tunnels where, protected from 
     
     extremes of cold and out of sight of predators they can mova about in 
     
     search of food. Birds like Ruffed Grouse are also known to seek warmth 
     
     and shelter by digging into a snowdrift on a cold winter's night. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The frost which forms beautiful and delicate patterns on our winter 
     
     windowpanes originates in much the same way as snow. When the warm moist 
     
     air inside our homes comes in contact with a cold surface like a pane of 
     
     glass, the water vapour in the air freezes and forms patterns of crystals 
     
     on the window. 
     
    
   
   
    
     BEAVERS BUSY ON NIGHT SHIFT. John Wright reports _' 
     
     that beavers in his area put in a busy night Qxéféf 
     
     recently. In one overnight period they cut down' ' ' ‘ 
     
     six, six-inch deciduous trees near the Montague 
     
     River. Perhaps the early snowfall on November 
     
    

    
     12 reminded them that winter is approaching 
     
     faster than they expected, and they decided it 49 
     
     was high time to get the dam and lodge winterized (:PW 
     
     and to lay in a good supply of food. §$§Hz