TROUBLES OF THE GRASS 



help. Moreover, they are in a state of perpetual war ! No 

 plant within them experiences the blessings of peace from the 

 time it germinates until the day that it dies. 



Each plant is fighting with its neighbours for light, for 

 air, for water, and for salts in the soil, and it is also trying 

 to protect itself against grazing animals, against the vole 

 which gnaws its roots, and against the insects and caterpillars 

 which try to devour its buds. 



Besides its own private and individual troubles, it is but 

 one of a whole company or army of plants which, like a co- 

 operative society, occupy the field. 



Other societies, such as peat-moss, thickets, and woods, try 

 to drive out the grasses and cover that particular place in its 

 stead. The Grassland companions are also always trying to 

 take up new ground, and to cover over any which is not 

 strongly held by other plants. 



A road, for instance, is always being attacked by the 

 grassland near it. It is sure to have a distinct border of Rafs 

 Tail Plantain, Dandelion, Creeping Buttercup, and Yellow 

 Clovers. These are the advanced guard of the grassland. 

 However heavily you tread upon these plants, you will do 

 them no injury whatever, for they are specially designed to 

 resist heavy weights. But, if the road were only left alone, 

 these bordering plants would be very soon choked out. ITie 

 ordinary buttercup would replace the creeping species, and 

 white or red clovers take the place of the little yellow ones, 

 whilst grasses would very soon spring up all over it. 



But of course the roadman comes and scrapes off all the 

 new growth of colonizing grasses, etc. Then the plantains, 

 dandelions, and yellow clovers patiently begin their work 

 again. 



In Switzerland, in those valleys in which the glaciers are 



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