THE UNIVERSAL STRIFE 17 



ward and longest branches. The force that can 

 thus affect a great tree stem and make it grow 

 awry must be vast and continuous ; but sharper is 

 the violence which uproots a giant elm, or tears off 

 its branches. 



Vegetation, however, strives not only with the 

 elements, but with itself. Plants are ready com- 

 batants. From dark recesses they crowd towards 

 the light. The greatest share of this is gained 

 by the strongest, or the 'most rapid in growth, 

 which increases the fatal shade upon its neigh- 

 bours. Each meadow is a battlefield, not only 

 for active insects and higher animals, but even 

 for the passive grasses, which obstruct each 

 other. The brightest blossoms in woodland glades 

 exhale odours or spread their glories in uncon- 

 scious competition for the presence of necessary 

 insects. The sweetest herbs on sloping banks 

 contest the possession of clumps of tree-roots 

 retaining a wealth of rich mould ; or, by means 

 of the annual casting of seeds, they outstrip each 

 other in races for the new clearings. There is 

 the flush of rivalry in their beauty, the poison 

 of jealousy in their stores of honey. The battle 

 3 



