342 



George E. NicJwls, 



stumps which have survived the fire, partly from seed, and with 

 its rapid rate of growth it quickly gains the ascendancy over 

 other trees in the rising forest. Red maple also frequently plays 

 an active role in reforestation, reproducing in much the same 

 manner as the birch ; while the bird cherry and any of the 

 poplars may be present in greater or less abundance. A point 

 of interest, to be emphasized in this connection, is that the 

 balsam fir, with the spruces, may appear at a very early stage 



Figure 37. — Succession after a burn ; balsam fir coming in under paper 

 birch ; northwestern Maine. 



in the succession : in fact, their seedlings may be present from 

 the outset. But, on account of their relatively slow growth in 

 the shade cast by the birch canopy, the conifers continue to 

 occupy a position of subordinate importance for many years 

 (Fig. 37). By the time a hundred years has elapsed, however, 

 a marked change in the character of the forest has taken place ; 

 for by this time the balsam fir has usually become the pre- 

 dominant tree. This latter phase in the succession is well 

 illustrated by an old bum forest near Indian Brook. Here the 

 bulk of the mature stand consists of balsam fir intermixed with 



