The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-03-08

The laws which govern the distribution
OF trees produce the two great types, the
pure and the mixed forest. The former
Us the result of local conditions which
trees Of one kind only can survive.
In the North woods the balsam occupies
the swamps. usually 10 tns exclusion OF
AL competitors since Ec other Of the fG
the Black Hills and oths- parts OF the
Middle West the small demands OF the
bun pine upon moisture enable II 10 form
pure woods on soil too dry to support
other native 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 the peculiar conditions OF
these regions
Where climate and soil are favorable 10
various trees. we find lhc mixed forest,
the number Of species Ia mixture depend
ing upon the suitability OF the locality 10
forest growth,
Upon the hardwood flats Of the Adiron-
dacks the hard maple, the yellow birch
and the beech are the only deciduous
trees able to withstand the severe
climate In the Southern Appalachian
forests, where the trees Of the North and
South meet under conditions favorable to
both. we find more than one hundred dit-
ferent kinds.
The distribution Of trees. therefore. IL
the Joint result OF local conditions and OF
the individual. and varying requirements
Of the different species upon moisture
which govern forest distribution are NOT
Identical with these which regulate the
behavior OF trees in. mixture. Ihey 90
not explain why each species If undis-
turbed. maintains the same proportion IN
the mixed forest. Why does not the harn
maple drive out its competitors IN the
Adirondacks. the oak gain the upper
hand in the forests of the Southern Ap-
palachians. the red fir exterminate the
western hemiock on the Pacific sloDe3
Wherever mixed forest occurs there is
an unrelenting struggle going on. Let us
see how the combatants are armed ana
why the representation of each species
remains unchanged.
The more important Of the charactcrls-
tics which affect the capacity OF tree
to hold its own in mixture with trees OF
other kinds are its demands upon light,
its rate of growth and its power OF repro-
duction. No two species require an equal
amount Of light. grow at the same rate
or are Identical in their capacity TO repro
duce themselves The endoWments OF
each. with habits differing from those Of
its neighbors but with strength and
weakness so balanced that all which oc-
cur in mixture enter the struggle for ex-
islence upon an equal footing. Is one OF
the marvellous feats of mature
The red spruce Of the n II woods
through its ability to endur nense shade
has been given the power 10 hold IT'S own
against faster growing col-ipesltors, soilie
OF which exceed II greatly in their capaci-
ty 10 reproduce themselves. The YOUNG
snruces which spring up here and there
throughout the forest struggle along un-
der the heavy crowns of the hardWoods,
where a tree making more insistent de-
nands upon light could not thrive.
In the forests Of the Southern Appalach-
ians the oak is, in many loeahues, the
characteristic tree. Growing rapluly anu
exceedingly hardy, it might be expected
TO increase steadily its proportion ot the
mixture. The equilibrium is maintained
through the fact that the oak can endure
but little shade and that us seed Is heavy. ss
limiting its reproduction 10 Inc tHmeolate
vicinity Of the parent tree
In the same region. the yellow poplar
and the chestnut. both trees Whlcn grow
ranidfv and are capable of enduring con-
siderable shade, arc controlled, the one
because much Of its seed Is barren, the
other because many of the nuts are eaten
bv animals. And the red cedar, OF SLOW
growth and sparse representation. Is AID
ed through the distribution OF It's seeds
IN birds, with their power to germinate
unimpaired
The aspen. short-lived and requiring
much light holds its own with the long
er-lived and shade-endurinR trees. be-
cause its downy seed is produced in great
quantities and scattered far and wide by
the wind. The ash and the basswood' OF
rapid growth and bearing an abundance
of seed, are withheld by strong demands
unon light. and by the need of fresh
and fertile soil. The red f1r, equaleu py
few North American trees IN raPidity OF
growth and otherwise well equipped to
gain the upper hand in its region, is con-
frolied through the usual failure Of its
seed to germinate except when accident
has removed the leaf litter and exposed
the mineral soil
The study of trees as living, striving
organisms In a world Of their own. lends
an almost human interest to the forest.
Every day spent in the woods will be
The 1leasanter for some insight gained
into what is going on within It; and an
earnest observer can gain knowledge of
practical value by an attempt to discover
the factors which control the occurrence
Of trees in mixture. Forestry, which
deals with the development of the high
est utility of forests, means thorough
understanding Of the habits OF trees
Youths Companion.