30 FORESTS AND MANKIND 



undisturbed the climax type for that locality will come back 

 and reconquer its old home. 



Now if our suppositional forest is left without further inter- 

 ference from man, the trees will mature and at last become 

 decadent with age. Perhaps this year or next a pine will crash 

 down, heavy with old age, or the wind will overthrow some 

 decayed and aged oak. Each fallen tree opens a little space in 

 the forest and in each such opening, seedlings of the surround- 

 ing trees spring up and soon our forest will have trees of all 

 ages growing within it as other trees die and fall. So through- 

 out the centuries growth keeps pace with decay and death. 

 This forest of ours has become what we call an "all-age forest." 

 Trees of all ages compose it. And it is this type of forest which 

 is most frequently met in nature. 



In the forest the battle of life begins early. At first in the 

 openings left by fallen trees and in the greater spaces created 

 by man and fire, the seedlings that spring up have enough 

 light for their leaves and moisture and soil room for their 

 roots. Each is free to grow without interference by its neigh- 

 bors. The life and death fight for supremacy has not yet begun, 

 but as the trees grow, their roots reach out to invade each 

 other's supply of moisture and soil food, their branches begin 

 to touch and cut off each other's light From now on it is a 

 merciless fight for life a fight that continues without ceasing 

 until the battle is lost or won. 



During this early competitive stage seedlings put all their 

 energy into growing tall that they may receive the life-giving 

 sunlight and not be overshadowed by some faster-growing 

 neighbor. Little hope exists for the stragglers. The branches of 

 their victorious fellows close above them and, deprived of light, 



