536 NATURAL SCIENCE. sept.. 



death to the many and conquest to the few. As those which have 

 got ahead stretch themselves over the others the sunUght is ex- 

 cluded and death is only a matter of time. Sometimes the struggle 

 between two trees is a very close one. They are apparently equal 

 in size and height, and as they interlace their branches, there is a 

 continual straining to get ahead of each other. One raises a branch 

 above in one direction, while its antagonist succeeds in covering it 

 in another, and so the fight goes on, neither gaining the advantage 

 or being able to arrive at an assured position. 



As may be seen, the difficulties in the way of a seed or young 

 forest tree are enormous. Millions of fruits ripen only to become 

 food for labbas and acouries on the ground, or birds and monkeys in 

 the trees. Most of those in Guiana are light enough to float on the 

 water, and on account of this provision are carried away by floods 

 and deposited at great distances from the parent trees. But the 

 forest is crowded — it cannot find room for more. Unless a vacancy 

 occurs there is no chance for a newcomer. And when this happens, 

 what a struggle for the position ! Hundreds of candidates are on the 

 ground, and there is no patronage or favouritism unless man inter- 

 feres. The one that succeeds may perhaps be the most worthless in 

 the eyes of the woodcutter. A soft-wooded tree, for instance, will 

 grow more quickly and outstrip the others. Various contrivances 

 have been adopted. It seems as if everything has been tried, but 

 rarely have two species chosen the same means to the end. All the 

 trees of the Guiana forest have, however, agreed to avoid branching 

 on the lower part of the stem. If branches are produced in early 

 life, these are very small, and soon drop off" so as not to interfere with 

 their upward growth. Every effort is made to reach the common 

 level, while to support the slender trunk and prevent its becoming 

 top-heavy, buttresses are thrown out at the base. 



It would seem that if once the forest were occupied, there could 

 never be the slightest chance for another tree, without the interference 

 of man. Such would actually be the case were there no destructive 

 agencies. Once over the drawbacks of infancy, its head on a level 

 with those of its neighbours, the forest giant would have merely to 

 maintain its position. But in reality it has to contend with a 

 number of insidious foes. Here and there in the forest fallen trunks, 

 with no sign on them of axe or other instrument, lie along the 

 ground, and crumble slowly away under the influence of moisture 

 and the attacks of wood-ants and beetle larvae. Occasionally, the 

 traveller comes upon the scene of a recent downfall. A tree has 

 partly fallen, producing a break in the continuity of the forest, as 

 well as a confused mass of wreckage. In the line of its course, are 

 ragged ends of great limbs, twisted branches, headless palms, and 

 torn bush-ropes. As yet it is partly supported by the mass of foliage, 

 branches, and trunks of otiier trees which stand in the way, but as 

 these decay it will gradually sink until it becomes a rotting log on 

 the ground. 



