CONTINENTAL NOTES — GERMANY. I 99 



evident that in localities where such snowfalls are an annual or 

 frequent incident, only the trees that are most capable of resisting 

 can survive, and a fixed racial type becomes established by 

 selection. In the Hessian Reinhardswald, the pine of the plains 

 type was cultivated on a somewhat elevated plateau over con- 

 siderable areas. Snow destroyed these forests, and they have 

 disappeared. 



Dr Kienitz does not deny that there may be many other causes 

 which aid in the formation of the racial types, but is satisfied that 

 the annual fall of dry snow ranks in the first place. 



The thesis brought forward that the tall, slender growth is due 

 to greater moisture in the air is untenable. It cannot be doubted 

 that any tree will grow higher in a moist climate than in an arid 

 one, but why a tree should grow slender under the influence of 

 moisture is not easily comprehensible, for the branches share with 

 the top the facilities of the water-supply, and in a broad-crowned 

 type should develop proportionately. Surely Scotland has a 

 sufficiently moist climate, and should therefore produce the most 

 slender spruce-like pines, but the numerous photographs taken in 

 fifteen parts of Scotland show invariably the strong-branched 

 spreading crown. Some are so crooked that even the southern 

 part of the forest of Brandenburg can hardly show anything more 

 artistic. Professor Fraser Story declares them to be typical of 

 each district. 



The pines of Northumberland, photographs of which were sent 

 by Mr Holzapfel of Newcastle, show a similar development of strong 

 branches. There may be occasional heavy snowfalls in Scotland 

 and heavy damage among the pines, but the annually recurring, 

 frequent and persistent fall of snow, without interruption by thaw, 

 such as occur in the Bavarian Alps, or Scandinavia and the Baltic 

 provinces, does not take place there. 



Dr Kienitz soon found that, in order to enlarge the scope of 

 his inquiries beyond the reach of his home and his restricted 

 journeys, he required widespread assistance. He asked for 

 pictures of pine trees upwards of one hundred years old, grown, as 

 far as possible, in the open, and not interfered with by other trees. 

 The selection of photographs made from hundreds sent to him 

 from all parts of the world, testifies to the generous readiness with 

 which his appeal for help was met, and since the International 

 Convention of Research has specially taken up the subject, he is 

 certain of future help. 



