96 



above the branchless stem. That trees of 

 gigantic stature are not more frequently 

 found in unappropriated forests is gene- 

 rally to be attributed to their want of 

 room ; that is, to their growing so close as 

 to injure or kill one another. They can- 

 not attain to first rate growth without 

 ages of contention, and killing all their 

 neighbours. In doing so, the growth of 

 the survivors is not only delayed for 

 centuries, but in general permanently 

 marred. The axe should gradually and 

 successively relieve them from their 

 neighbours. 



It is a great mistake of De CandoUe, 

 Richard, and other French writers, to lay 

 down the branchless stem as a distinctive 

 characteristic of a tree. All trees which 

 grow singly on sheltered lawns have 

 branches down to the ground, and from 

 the lowest parts of their stems ; and most 

 beautiful objects they are. The branchless 

 stem is the result of injury from the hand 



