108 GnEGARTOUSNESS AND SOCIABILITY OF SPECIES- 



its struggle for very existence with other species and with the op- 

 posing conditions of climate and soil. The fittest will every- 

 where survive. But the fittest species not being necessarily also 

 the most valuable (whether absolutely so or because they favour 

 the growth of those which are,), we, as foresters, have often to 

 intervene in the struggle and aid the weaker to conquer the 

 stronger. Hence the most practical end designed to be served by 

 the considerations developed in the present and immediately pre- 

 ceding Chapters is that they may furnish us with the key where- 

 with to study and analyse with sufficient exactness the behaviour 

 of each one of our more valuable species in that struggle, to note 

 under what conditions it can hold its own against all its rivals, un- 

 der what circumstances it has to yield to its stronger neighbours, 

 to what extent and how those circumstances may be favourably 

 modified by the forester, up to what point the struggle is useful in 

 drawing up the trees, in naturally forming their boles, or in any 

 other way improving their growth or the quality of their timber. 

 Armed with such facts, we can, with the full confidence that know- 

 ledge begets, interpose as soon as the necessity arises, with the 

 most appropriate effective measures, in order to shorten or prolong 

 the struggle as the case may require, and to continually aim at 

 securing the most advantageous proportion and distribution of the 

 various species and age-classes in other words, attain the main 

 end and object of Sylviculture, which are the largest and most use- 

 ful production in forests grown for the market alone ; the most effective 

 living tree-covering or barrier, combined, whenever possible, ivith a 

 large and useful production, in forests grown for protection ; the 

 most protection-affording and at the same time least invasive and 

 otherwise harmful belts or groups of trees in fodder preserves and m 

 places in which agriculture is combined with sylviculture ; and the 

 most pleasing effect on the eye in forests grown for ornament* 



