10 



A PRIMER OF FORESTRY 



and take up from the soil water and certain mineral sub- 

 stances which the tree needs 

 in its growth. Second, the 

 trunk, stem, or bole, which 

 supports the crow II and su}}- 

 plles it with mineral food 

 and water from the roots. 

 (See fig-. 4.) Third, the 

 crown itself, with its net- 

 work of branches,buds, and 

 leaves, iu which the food 

 taken up by the tree from 

 the soil and air is worked 

 over and made ready to 

 assist iu- the growth of 

 the whole plant. (See figs. 

 5-7 and PL IV.) The 

 crown has more to do Avith 

 the life of the tree than its 

 other parts, for the most 

 important processes in the 

 reproductionofthe tree and 

 the digestion of its food 

 take place in the crown. 

 For this reason, and be- 

 cause we can control its 

 shape and size more easily 

 and directly than that of 

 the roots or trunk, the 

 crown is of special inter- 

 est to the forester. It is 



Fig. 4.— Trunks of two Red Firs. Tlie . • i ^.i 



figure of a man between them gives an aluiOSt eXCluSlVely With the 



idea of tlieir great size, wliicli, how- cfoWUS that he liaS tO deal 



ever, is not unusual. Olympic Forest . . -, . n . 



Reserve. Washington. "^ tending a Crop of trCCS 



