264 IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



level best to exist and even thrive in the midst of 

 the greatest difficulties. Here also every flower 

 and fruit is seen at its best, and, if the plants are 

 native to the country, many a rare insect and bird 

 is attracted to the little bit of jungle. For, such 

 will ultimately be the character of the place if left 

 alone, only varying according to the species of 

 plants first brought into it. 



The first scene in the great struggle is the fight 

 with weeds. Throughout the tropics every piece 

 of cultivated land is infested with these. Unlike 

 the more delicate garden plants, they are sturdy and 

 strong, suited to many places and circumstances 

 instead of one, and therefore better able to live in 

 the garden than those you have planted. Only 

 natives are able to contend successfully with them, 

 and you will have to help the weaklings at the 

 commencement. It will not be amiss, however, to 

 watch the struggle before destroying them entirely, 

 as they not only fight with your pets, but also 

 among themselves. Some are armed with prickles 

 and spines, others with down and bristles, while 

 a few of the less unsightly are enabled to carry on 

 the struggle by means of tough roots, rhizomes, and 

 tubers, which endure alternations of wet and dry 

 as well as defy the continual use of the hoe. They 

 may be scotched but never killed by the gardener 



