46 IMPORTANT TIMBER TREES 



seed distribution is carried on through what may truthfully 

 be called accident or chance ; and that the species them- 

 selves have no hand in it and cannot select their companions, 

 and that seed must grow, if at all, where it falls ; hence that 

 what may be seen in virgin forests should not necessarily 

 be taken as a guide. 



It is further insisted by the opponents of mixed forests 

 that experience with artificial ones abroad has shown that 

 pure stands, or stands composed of trees of equal demand 

 for light, mineral food, and moisture, produce the greatest 

 yield, admitting, however, the greater liability of damage 

 by disease, insects, or winds to a pure stand. With these and 

 lesser arguments has the controversy been carried on and 

 it is still unsettled, and probably will not be determined 

 very soon ; not until experience establishes what is best in 

 this country with our varying conditions of soil, climate, 

 species, and surroundings ; but in the mean time we should 

 be guided as far as possible by what a study of our forests 

 may reveal as indicating the system of planting most likely 

 to lead to success. As stated, we know that in some cases 

 Nature grows pure stands and in others she mingles the 

 species to a greater or less extent, and successfully so in 

 both cases ; and to assume that only one of these is in all 

 cases the true one would manifestly be absurd. Hence we 

 may choose as conditions and necessities may dictate ; but 

 in making a choice we should not ignore the known laws 

 of tree-growth. Elsewhere (page 35) has been shown the 

 demand for light which all trees make. From what is there 

 set forth it is manifest that if a rapidly growing tree is 

 planted in close proximity to a slow-growing one the for- 

 mer will suppress its neighbor to a greater or less degree. 

 This is compensated, in part, by some trees enduring more 

 shade than others, but that fact does not prove that those 

 requiring less light than the others will grow better under 

 the shade of more intolerant ones than if given full light. 

 It only shows that the tolerant tree is accommodating itself 

 to adverse conditions. Neither does it show that the more 



