18 RICHNESS OF THE FOREST LAND. 
immense vegetation constantly going on should be 
supported. The whole earth is completely matted 
with roots; and those of the smaller trees fre- 
quently pass over those of the larger, and seem 
to draw their sustentation from their more sturdy 
and gigantic neighbours: and such is the rankness 
of foliage, from the ground to the tops of the highest 
trees, that the eye can penetrate only a few feet 
before it, into the deep umbrageous recesses of 
the woods. The forest ground is never perfectly 
dry ; the rain which falls upon the trees must, for 
the most part, eventually find its way to the earth, 
and the rays of the sun cannot penetrate so far as 
to shine upon the mould and absorb its moisture. 
This may, in some measure, account for the 
exceeding thickness and surpassing beauty of 
the foliage : each drop of rain, each particle of 
dew, that falls, is received by the trees them- 
selves ; and when overloaded, they shake off the 
encumbrance ; which their mother earth receives 
into her capacious bosom, and returns to her 
offspring, when they most need the sustenance 
which she had received, and now readily returns. 
In spring, and summer, and autumn, and winter, 
there is no visible change in the appearance of the 
woods : they are as beautiful in the depth of win- 
ter as in the height of summer ; leaves no sooner 
fall to the ground, but others directly assume 
their station ; no branch withers from its trunk, 
but another and a more vigorous one puts out 
in its stead : the fairest and most tender shrubs 
