THE CONIFEROUS FORESTS 
that have braved life together. They 
have seen companion veterans fall by 
their side, long ago, into the deep, 
closely matted needle-mold. Thence 
arose out of the moister hollows be- 
neath the rotting trunk and boughs a 
new generation, and the greater num- 
ber of these have disappeared, too, 
for some reason or another; only the 
strongest at last leading, to take the 
place of the departed. How dignified, 
how simple are these old, stalwart 
trees on the exposed ridge of the 
mountain. 
Thus the coniferous forests, by vir- 
tue of their inherent qualities and by 
means of the effects they borrow from 
their environment, possess a tone that 
is as original and distinct as the char- 
acter of the forests belonging to the 
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