FOEEST TEEES AND FOEEST SCENEEY 



of the forest. The character of the 

 climate, the nature of the soil, the de- 

 gree of moisture in the soil and in the 

 atmosphere, the amount and intensity 

 of the sunlight — in short, the various 

 elements and natural forces that con- 

 stitute the enviroimient of a tree — are 

 the all-important conditions of its life. 

 On these it depends, and according to 

 its own peculiar nature and its special 

 needs, selects its natural home. 



Yet the manner in which this selec- 

 tion is accomplished, though simple in 

 theory, is complicated by many circum- 

 stances. Frost, fire, insects, and floods, 

 by destroying the trees or their seeds, 

 may retard the progress of the species. 

 The wind may be unfavorable. The 

 seeds hang upon the trees ready and 

 ripe for germination, but a breeze comes 

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