42 MANUAI, OF NATURE STUDY. 



each pupil in this respect, letting him name other 

 trees that may have come under his immediate 

 notice. 



Wallace says, that in every contest between the 

 birch and the beech, the latter has been most suc- 

 cessful. The former loses its branches at the 

 touch of the beech and throws all its strength in 

 the top trying to grow higher, but in this it fails 

 to get as much light and moisture as the beech, two 

 very essential things in the life of a plant ; hence 

 the one is driven to the lakes and swamps, while 

 the other holds possession of the field. The beech 

 can flourish in the shade but the birch cannot, hence 

 the advantage of the one over the other. The 

 beech will also kill out the fir for the same reason 

 as that given for the victory over the birch. But 

 the old sturdy oak plants his roots deep in the earth 

 and challenges the beech to mortal combat. The 

 stubborn beech, so long the victor over all other 

 competitors, refuses to yield and withdraw from the 

 field, but hurls defiance at the mighty oak. The 

 contest is on, the battle is long and hotly contested 

 at every point, and at this date, the beech is still 

 undaunted and is maintaining his ground with 

 remarkable tenacity, while the oak shows signs of 

 fatigue and is beginning to weaken. The present 

 indications are that the oak, too, will have to seek 

 grounds where the shade of the beech is still 



