6 THE PKIMITIVE FOREST. 



vines, like the climtiiig fern, the poison ivy, and the am- 

 pelopsis, fastened upon their trunks and trailing from 

 their branches, make the wood lq many places like the 

 iaterior of a grotto. Above all, thfe traveller would notice 

 the absence of those pleasant wood-paths that intersect 

 all our familiar woods, and would find his way only by 

 observing those natural appearances that serve as a com- 

 pass to the Indian and the forester. 



In primitive woods there is but a small proportion of 

 perfectly formed trees; and these occur only in such 

 places as permit some individuals to stand in an isolated 

 position, and spread out their arms to their full capacity. 

 When rambling in a wood we take note of several condi- 

 tions which are favorable to this full expansion of their 

 forms. On the borders of a lake, a prairie, or an open 

 moor, or of an extensive quarry that projects above the 

 soU, the trees will extend their branches into the open- 

 ing ; but as they are crowded on their inner side, they 

 are only half developed. This expansion, however, is on 

 the side that is exposed to view ; hence the incompara- 

 ble beauty of a wood on the borders of a lake or pond, 

 on the banks of a river as viewed from the water, and 

 on the circiunference of a densely wooded islet. 



Fissures and cavities are frequent in large rocks not 

 covered with soil, allowing solitary trees which have 

 taken root in them to acquire their full proportions. In 

 such places, and on eminences that rise suddenly above 

 the forest level, with precipitous sides, overtopping the 

 surrounding woods, we find individual trees possessing the 

 character of standards, like those we see by roadsides and 

 in open fields. But perfectly formed trees can only be 

 produced in openings and on isolated elevations such as 

 I have described ; and it is evident that these favorable 

 circumstances must be rare. The trees in a forest are like 

 those- human beings who from their infancy have been 



