HOW TREES GROW 21 



But only those seeds fortunate enough to find a friendly con- 

 spiracy of soil, sunlight, and moisture win through to begin the 

 new forest. And even for them the battle is only just begun. 

 Before them lies a long century of battle against other trees, 

 against storm, drought, disease and fire. And the later fortunes 

 of these bits of tree life become part of the story of the forests 

 themselves. 



