FOREST TREES AND FOREST SCENERY 



to the group described in the preced- 

 ing section of this chapter. Most of 

 them preserve their foliage through 

 the winter, and are commonly recog- 

 nized by this evergreen habit. They 

 are much more important to the for- 

 ester than the other class. The coni- 

 fers grow on the true forest soils. 

 They range along mountain crests or 

 are scattered over dry and semi-arid 

 regions or along the sandy seashore, 

 while the broadleaf species usually 

 require a better soil and a more 

 congenial climate. This circumstance 

 causes many deciduous forests to be 

 cut down, in order that the better land 

 on which they grow may be utilized 

 for agricultural purposes. Moreover, 

 the wood of the conifers is generally 

 more useful, being in several of the 

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