The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-11-18
HOW FORESTS GROW
THERE ARE TWO GREAT TYPES,
THE PURE AND MIXED.

one OF the Marvellous Fcnts OF Nature
In the Balancing of Conditions
Where Trees of Different Habits
Enter the Struggle For Eristcnce.
The laws which govern the dstribu-
zion 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 balsnm oc-
eupies the swamps. usually to the ex-
clpsion 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 1T TO form pure woods
on soil too dry to support other na-
tive trees. The jack pine of the New
Jersey barrens and the long leaf pine
ef the southern states grow in pure
or nearly pure stands since they alone
can withstand the peculiar conditions
Of these regions.
Where climate and soil are favorable
10 various trees we find the mixed for
est, the number of species in 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 arc the only de-
eiduous trees able to withstand the Sc
we're climate. In the southern Appa-
fachian forests, where the trees Of the
north and south meet under conditions
favorable to both, we find more than
100 different kinds.
The distribution Of trees, therefore,
- the Joint result Of local conditions
and Of the individual and varying re-
4ufrcments Of the different species up
On moisture, soil and climate. The
laws, however, which govern forest dis
tributon are not identical with those
which regulate the behavior OF trees
n mixture. They do not explain why
each species. IL undisturbed. maintains
he same proportion in the mixed for
est Why does not the hard maple
drive out its competitors in the Adiron-
aachs. the oak gain the upper hand in
ehe forests OF the southern Appala-
soians, the red fir cXterminate the
western hemlock OH the Pacific slope?
Wherever mixed forest occurs
there Is m unreienting struggle going
ON. Let us see how the combatants
are armed and why the representation
q each species remains unchanged.
The more important of the character
fstics which affect the capacity Of a
tree to hold its own in mixture with
trees Of other kinds are its demands
npon light, its rate Of growth and its
power OF reproduction. No two species
require IN equal amount Of light, grow
at the same rate or are identical in
their capacity to reproduce themselves.
The endowment Of each, with habits
differing from those of it's neighbors.
but with strength and weakness 80
turc enter the struggle TOT exIsrencc
upon an equal footing, is one of the
marvellous fents of nature.
The red spruce of the North woods,
through it's ability to endure dense
shade, has been given the power to
hold its own against faster growing
competitors, some Of which exceed 1T
greatly In their capacity to reproduce
themselves. The young spruces which
spring up here and there throughout
the forest struggle along under the
tree making more insistent demands
upon light could not survive.
In the forests Of the southern Ap-
palachians the oak is i'll many localities
the characteristic tree. Growing rap
Idly and exceedingly hardy. 1t might be
expected to increase steadily its pro-
portion IN the mixture. The equilibri-
um is maintained through the fact that
the oak can endure but little shade
and that Its seed Is heavy, limiting its
reproduction to the immediate vicinity
Of the parent tree.
In the same region the yellow poplar
and the chestnut, both trees which
grow rapidly and are capable Of endur-
ing considerable shade, are controlled,
tho one because much Of its seed Is
barren, the other because many Of the
nuts are eaten by animals. And the
red cedar. of slow growth and sparse
representation. is aided through the
distribution of its seeds by birds. with
their power to germinate unimpaired.
The aspen. short lived and requiring
much light, holds its own with longer
lived and shade enduring trees because
its downy seed is produced in great
quantities and IS scattered far and
wide by the wind. The ash and the
Eastwood, Of rapid growth and bearing
an abundance of seed, are withheld by
strong demands upon light and by the
seed OF fresh and fertile soil. The
red Or, eQualed by few North American
trees in rapidity Of growth and other.
wise well equipped to gain the upper
hand In its region. Is controlled through
the usual failure Of Its seed to germi.
nate except when accident has remov.
ed the leaf litter and exposed the min
Qrai soil