OPEN CLEARING AND SECONDGROWTH 



in 



Photo bu TT. B. 



FIG. IS. FLOWERS OF THE GUIANA (ALLAMAXDA) 



sometimes covered these ])laiits with ahen bloom, before 

 tlieir own flowers liad liad time to appear and develop. 



Soon, however, anotlni- type of plant appeared with 

 hollow and jointed stems. ])ushing ont fans of fingered leaves, 

 swiftlv. wastino' no time in branchino-. bnt content with a 

 sino'le spike piercino' n]) tlirouo'h strata of grass and reeds, 

 through .shrubs and buslu-s until it had won to the open sky. 

 This was the cecropia dv trum])et tree, falsely a])])earing 

 firm and solid stemmed. l)ut quite dominant during the first 

 few years of the neglected secondgrowth. It formed a 

 pure culture in most places, crowding out. by a monopoly 

 of the sunlight, most other growth. It had manv decided 

 qualities, some visible at a glance, others revealed only to 

 those who became intimate with it. It was extremely orna- 

 mental and provided a cool, dense shade. Every section of 



