CHAPTER XXVIII 

 COMPETITION WITH FELLOWS 



348. THE FACT OF STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE.— We 

 have seen (Chapter IX) that branches contend amongst 

 themselves for opj)ortunity to live and grow. Similarly, 

 separate plants contend with each other. We shall ob- 

 serve that this is true; but we are compelled to believe it 

 by considering the efforts which all plants make to propa- 

 gate themselves. The earth is filled tvith plants. It is 

 chiefly when plants die or are killed that places are made 

 for others. Every one of these plants puts forth its 

 utmost effort to perpetuate its kind. It produces seeds 

 by the score or even by the thousand. In some instances 

 it propagates also by means of vegetative parts. If the 

 earth is full and if every plant endeavors to multiply its 

 kind, there must be struggle for existence. 



349. The effects of struggle for existence are of three 

 general categories: (1) the seed or spore may find no 

 opportunity to grow; (2) sooner or later the plant may 

 be killed; (3) the plant may vary, or take on new char- 

 acters, to adapt itself to the conditions in which it grows. 

 Consider the crop of seeds which any plant produces: how 

 many germinate ? how many of the young plants reach 

 maturity ? Note the profusion of seedlings under the 

 maples and elms, and then consider how few maple and 

 elm trees there are. Count the seeds on any plant and 

 imagine that each one makes a plant: where will all 

 these new plants find a place in which to grow ? 



350. WHAT STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE IS.— Struggle 

 for existence with fellows is competition for room or 



N (209) 



