Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-12-07
HOW FORESTS GROW
THERE ARE TWO GREAT TYPES.
The PURE AND MIXED.


u. the balancing of Conditions
where Trees of Different Habits
Enter the Struggle For Existence.
The laws which govern the distribu-
tion Of trees produce the two great
types. the pure and the mixed forest.
The former is the result Of local con-
ditions which trees OF one kind only
can survive
In the North woods the balsam oc-
cupies the swamps. usually 20 the ex-
clusiOn OF all competitors. since no
other OF the native trees can thrive In
wet places. In the Black Hills and
other parts OF the middle west the
small demands OF the bull pine upon
moisture enable IT to form pure woods
on soil too dry TO support other ma
tive trees. The Jack pine Of the New
Jersey barrens and the long leaf pine
OF the southern states grow in pure
or nearly pure stands since they alone
can withstand tlSe peculiar conditions
OF these regions.
Where climate and soil are favorable
to various trees we find the mixed for
est, the number OF species I'm mixture
depending upon the suitability Of the
/ locality to forest growth
Upon the hardwood flats OF the Adj
rondacks the hard maple. the yellow
birch and the beech are the only de
ciduOus trees able 10 withstand the Sc
we're climate. In the southern Appa-
lachian forests. where the trees OF the
north and south meet under conditions
favorable 10 both. we find more than
100 different kinds
The distribution OF trees. therefore.
is the joint result OF local conditions
and OF the individual AMI varying re-
I quirements Of the different species up
/ on moisture. soil and climate. The
/ laws, however, which govern forest dis
I tribution are not Identical with those
I which regulate the behavior OF trees
/ in mixture. They DO not explain why
I each species, IL undisturbed. maintains
/ the same proportion BOO the mixed for
/ est Why does not the hard maple
\ drive out Its competitors in the Adirou-
/ dacks. the oak gain the upper hand in
/ the forests OF the southern Appala-
I chians. the red FIR cXtcrmiuate the
/ western hemlock on the Pacific Slopes
Wherever q mixed forest occurs
there IS an unrelenting struggle going
on. Let US see how the combatants
/ are armed and why the representation
/ OF each species remains unchanged.
Tie more Important OF the character
istics which affect tile capacity Of a
tree 10 hold its own In mixture with
4 trees OF other kinds are its demands
/ upon light. its rate OF growth and It's
/ power of reproduction. No two species
require an equal amount OF light. -row
ut the same rate or are Identical IN
their capacity 10 reproduce themselves.
/ The endowment OF each. with tal.-s
differing from those Of it's uci-lho~s.
but with strength and weakness ~
balanced that AN which occur iu mix
ture enter the struggle FOR existence
upon an equal footing. is one Of tie
marvellous feats OF nature
The red spruce OF the Norru woods
through its ability 10 endure GcuS,
shade. has been given the power Z,
hold It's own against faster growing
competitors. some Of which exceed j
greatly in their capacity 10 reproluc,
themselves. The young spruces which
spring up here and there Throughout
the forest struggle along under IL,
heavy crowns OF the hard woods. wher'
a tree making more insisteut demand.
upon light could not survive.
IL the forests OF the southern Ap
palachiaus the oak IS IN many localitie,
p the characteristic tree. Growing rap
idly and exceedingly hardy. It might b,
expected 70 Increase steadily It's pro
= portion in the mixture. The eQuilibr.
T. um IS maintained through the fact tina
the oak can endure but little shad,
and that its sceI is heavy. limiting iu
l reproduction 10 the immediate vicinit,
Of the parent tree.
. In the same region the yellow popla
. and the chestnut. both trees which
[ grow rapidly and are capable OF eudur
ing considerable shade are controlled
the one because much Of It's seed &.
barren, the other because many OF III,
, nuts are eaten 10y animals And II,
, red cedar. Of slow growth and Spor>,
representation, IS aided through IL,
; distribution Of its seeds by birds. WI
their power 10 germinate unImpaireG
The aspen. short lived and reQuirin-
much light, holds its own with Longer
lived and shade enduring trees lccauS,
It's downy seed is produced IN grea
! quantities and IS scattered tar am,
= wide by the wind. The ash and III,
, Eastwood. Of rapid growth and bcarln.
an abundance OF seed, are withheld o.
; strong demands upon light and by III,
seed OF a fresh and fertile soil Tn,
red fir, eQualed 10y few North American
trees in rapidity Of growth and other
wise well equipped To cain the uppe
hand limits region. is controlled through
, the usual failure OF its seed 10 cermi
: nate except when accident has rcmOv
r Ell the lear litter ana exposed the min
r eral soil
The study Of trees as living. Striviu.
4 organisms in world OF their ow,
!, leads an almost human interest IN IT,
p forest. Every day spent in The wood
D viii lee the pleasauter for some .uSigh
= gained into what is going on within Z,
+ and an earnest observer can gau
T. knowledge Of practical value 10y an al
tempt TO discover the factors whicl
control the occurrence Of trees in mix
ture. Forestry, which deals with tn
development OF the highest utility @
2 forests. means a thorough understand
4 ing Of the habits OF trees -Ovcrtou w
~ Price in Youths Companion
There is entirely too much time tax
en- up every day trying % help thoS
make up the!- minds who don't know
what they want-AtchjSon Globe.