A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. 



will invade and usurp the neighbouring 

 meadows. 



Plants, in point of fact, have more needs 

 than animals ; therefore, perforce, they 

 struggle harder. The beasts require but 

 food and drink ; the herbs require from 

 the soil water and nitrogenous matter for 

 their roots ; they require from the air, 

 carbon, which is their true solid food, for 

 their leaves ; they need sunlight, which is 

 the motive power, for their growth and 

 assimilation ; insects to fertilize them, birds 

 or breezes to disperse their seeds. For all 

 these they struggle ceaselessly among them- 

 selves; and the struggle is all the deadlier 

 because it is carried on at such very close 

 quarters. 



105 



