142 TREES IN NATURE, MYTH & ART 



in imitative magic. We must look elsewhere 

 for the reason why one of two trees, planted 

 side by side, will decay while the other flourishes. 

 It will be well to notice whether or not the 

 flourishing tree is planted to the south of the 

 other, and robs it of sunlight, and is itself pro- 

 tected by its less fortunate neighbour from the 

 fiercest of the wintry blasts. I know that such 

 are the relative positions of two trees, at least, 

 of which the above story is told ; and close to 

 my own house are two ash-trees, evidently 

 of almost the same age ; one is living and 

 doing well ; the other is dead. The latter is 

 to the north of the former. 



Competition is hard and relentless in the 

 woodland. We have seen how the beech will 

 oust the oak. It is in summer that some of 

 the effects of this competition are most obvious. 

 We are glad to escape at times to the woods. 

 There we are away from the sights and sounds 

 of human strife. It is not, however, to nature 

 that we must go to learn how to live so that, 

 if such a thing be possible, none shall suffer 

 by another's gain. Human life, like human 

 art, must rise above nature. If any one will 

 have this to be lese-majesty, then let such an 



