FOREST SOCIETIES. 549 



with an abundance of food, so that it grows rapidly, the stems 

 often becoming quite tall, and the young trees remaining white 

 except for a small crown of green leafage at the top. The Big 

 tree (S. washingtoniana) regenerates by seed, and while not a 



Fig. 501. 



Abandoned field, Alabama, self -reforested by pines. (Photograph by Prof. 

 P. H. Mell.) A Coniferous Forest Society. 



great shade-endurer, enough seedlings survive to provide a suc- 

 cession of different ages where lumbering is not practiced. 



Very few of the other conifers can develop effective coppice. 

 They are dependent on the seed for natural regeneration. On 

 the other hand broad-leaved trees develop abundant coppice, 

 and in this respect have the advantage over conifers which are 



