CHAPTER VI. 



NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FOREST. 



To understand the operations of the forester, it 

 is necessary to have some knowledge regarding 

 the life history of the object of his endeavor. 



We have seen that the forest is not a mere col- 

 lection of trees, but an organic whole, the result of 

 evolutionary development, of adaptations and reac- 

 tions to the environment, of interrelations between 

 the components of the forest and the soil, climate, 

 and lower vegetation, as well as between the com- 

 ponents themselves. 



While the forester must necessarily be thor- 

 oughly conversant with the development of the 

 single tree and all the conditions influencing it, he 

 cannot stop there, but must also know its behavior 

 when placed in relation to associates in the com- 

 munity of companions, for it is his business to de- 

 velop this community in such a manner, and bring 

 all influences and elements of environment into 

 such a relation to it, that it will produce a certain 

 desired result. Acres of forest, not single trees, 

 concern him. 



The virgin forest and the forester's forest will 

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