QUERCUS ALBA 



of the defeated. Growing rapidly, 

 their side branches, spreading 

 wider and wider, began to touch, to 

 interfere. As before, all could not 

 survive there was not room; 

 and in repeating cycle the familiar 

 battle for upward growth, which 

 meant shade dominance and life 

 itself, was repeated; only now it 

 was a mightier contest, not of 

 thousands but of hundreds, and of 

 stalwart poles instead of tender 

 saplings. 



35 



