12 



FIRST BOOK OF FORESTRY 



and covered with pretty moss and ferns; and yonder 

 are two large trees of ash, one hollow, the other dead. 

 But then, what else could we expect? As long as man 



does not interfere 

 with these woods 

 and utilize the 

 timber, the old 

 trees die, tumble 

 over, and remain 

 until decay dis- 

 integrates their 

 bodies ; and rain 

 and snow gradu- 

 ally level these 

 powdery masses 

 and mingle them 

 with the earth, 

 where they serve 

 to fertilize the 

 ground for new 

 generations of 

 trees. Were it 

 not for the fungi 

 attending to this 

 destructive work, the trunks and tops of a few generations 

 of trees would cover the ground and prevent any new 

 growth, and thus bring all forest life to a standstill. 



Outer 

 Bark 



20 ig 18 if 32 jo // 25 20 



The " Blaze " just covered, 

 as it looks now 



