illXED CftOP OP TASroUS AGtKP. 87 



conflagrations, yet easily predomitiating over every other species 

 in another crop that is completely protected from fire. 



(e) Floods. — Here again the closer growth consequent on a 

 difference of ages, by offering a more or less effective obstacle to, 

 and thus diminishing in a very large measure, the violence of a 

 flood,- increases the chances of the survival of the weaker species. 

 Even as respects submergence, in a crop of different ages every 

 species is likely to be represented by indi^^duals old and, therefore, 

 tall enough to stand above the level of all but the highest floods. 

 But as regards the superabundance of water in the soil due to floods, 

 if, on the one hand, the closer growth implies a larger total tran- 

 spiring surface, on the other hand, the denser leaf-canopy restricts 

 insolation and the free entry of -winds under the crowus, both of 

 them powerful factors in the evaporation of soil-moisture. Lastly, 

 the presence at all times of large individuals of species suffering 

 little or no injury from saline substances in the soil, may, owing to 

 the abstraction by them from the soil of a large proportion of such 

 substances enable other species to exist, and even to flourish, 

 where the flood-waters contain enough of the substances in ques- 

 tion to kill or at least badly hurt them, if they were growing pure. 



(f) Action of man. — The presence of trees of different ages as 

 well as of different^pecies, affording, as it does, a wider field for selec- 

 tion, is a guarantee that the timber-dealer will, because they do not 

 suit his purpose for one reason or another, or because others suit it 

 better, spare numerous individuals of every species present, and these 

 individuals must then ultimately become the parents of a younger 

 generation. The most casual visit paid to forests containing teak, 

 sal or deodar, the most valuable of our trees, will suffice to con\ance 

 any one of this fact, even in such a backward country as India is. 

 If timber alone is wanted, unsound trees of the more valuable species 

 and every individual of other species are left to perpetuate their 

 kind ; and if every sort of marketable produce the crop can yield 

 is taken out, seedHngs and saplings at least are spared. Even when 

 the object is to make a clearing for any purpose whatsoever, it is 

 generally much more difficult to clear effectively a crop composed 

 of trees of all ages than one consisting of individuals of one and 

 the same age. 



The preceding remarks assume the absence of every idea or 

 forest conservancy. When, however, the crop is worked in accord- 

 ance with correct principles, every facility is afforded by a differ- 

 ence of ages for the preservation and fostering of the better spe- 

 cies and individuals, even of such as are in most respects weaker 



