THE FOREST 27 



It is now a desolate area without life. But about the edges the 

 old forest remains untouched by axe or fire and the trees from 

 this will scatter seed for short distances into the burned area. 

 Squirrels and birds venturing still further will carry acorns 

 from the oak and seed from the pines and maple and about 

 the edges of this wilderness the same kinds of trees that grew 

 there before will soon spring up again. 



AN ALL-AGED FOREST 



Nature's forests are usually made up of trees of all ages from seedlings to veterans. 



The death of the old fellow in the foreground has opened up a space seized upon 

 by hundreds of seedlings. On both sides are full grown dominant trees and crowded 

 between them is a thrifty grove of younger trees fighting for light and root space. 



But that is only a fringe. It would take many years, perhaps 

 centuries, before the inner part of the burned forest could be 

 covered with trees if nature had to depend on this slow method 

 of reforesting and by that time the soil would be so baked with 

 the hot sun and washed by the heavy rains that tree seeds 

 would have difficulty in finding hospitable abiding places. 

 Nature has a quicker means. Fortunately there are certain trees 



