FOREST TREES AND FOREST SCENERY 
to the group described in the preced- 
ing section of this chapter. Most of 
them preserve their foliage through 
the winter, and are commonly recog- 
nized by this evergreen habit. They 
are much more important to the for- 
ester than the other class. The coni- 
fers grow on the true forest soils. 
They range along mountain crests or 
are scattered over dry and semi-arid 
regions or along the sandy seashore, 
while the broadleaf species usually 
require a better soil and a more 
congenial climate. This circumstance 
causes many deciduous forests to be 
cut down, in order that the better land 
on which they grow may be utilized 
for agricultural purposes. Moreover, 
the wood of the conifers is generally 
more useful, being in several of the 
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