THE CONIFEROUS FOEESTS 



that have braved life together. They 

 have seen companion veterans fall by 

 their side, long ago, into the deep, 

 closely matted needle-mold. Thence 

 arose out of the moister hollows be- 

 neath the rotting trunk and boughs a 

 new generation, and the greater num- 

 ber of these have disappeared, too, 

 for some reason or another; only the 

 strongest at last leading, to take the 

 place of the departed. How dignified, 

 how simple are these old, stalwart 

 trees on the exposed ridge of the 

 mountain. 



Thus the coniferous forests, by vir- 

 tue of their inherent qualities and by 

 means of the effects they borrow from 

 theu^ environment, possess a tone that 

 is as original and distinct as the char- 

 acter of the forests belonging to the 

 133 



