FOEEST ADORNMENT 



forests, however, the shrubbery attains 

 its best development, for its presence 

 depends largely upon moisture, climate, 

 and soil, and these conditions are usu- 

 ally most favorable in our broadleaf 

 districts. In the latter, moreover, the 

 shrubbery exercises its influence most 

 efficiently, for many of the pines will 

 bear a considerable amount of heat and 

 drought, and several other conifers 

 show their independence and a differ- 

 ent kind of hardihood at high and 

 humid elevations. The varied and 

 beautiful forms of undergrowth in our 

 broadleaf forests — the shrubs, the 

 vines and graceful large ferns, and the 

 smaller plants that live along the forest 

 borders and penetrate within — may be 

 regarded as one of the distinctive fea- 

 tures of American forest scenery. 

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