232 
die. 
This struggle is renewed year alter year. 
BATTLES OF PLANTS IN THE WORLD 
One 
foot, eevtees inches, or two feet, the trees add to their 



Nt os sisi 
—<_ USER »D 
Hag “iN ) 
¥ | Ca si S acsen win 
‘ sean Ree a“ 


A \ AYN Ri My 
RG (i i ae i] 
PTT ua stan eh, 
Fic. 283. An enemy of 
pine, a bracket fun- 
gus growing on pine 
stump. 
height annually. Their limbs reach out 
and interlock as if in actual physical 
struggle. The dense foliage on the 
upper branches cuts off much lght 
below. The lower branches die away. 
The tall, smooth trunks of forest trees 
appear below the rising tops, which get 
higher and higher. ‘The smaller trees 
die and fall to the ground. It is a 
struggle now between the taller and 
finer pines and the taller and sturdier 
It is a battle of giants, a contest 
Here 
oaks. 
for the “ survival of the fittest.” 
and there between the 
round tops of the oak are 
clear views of the sky 
Through these 
openings thestraight shaft, 
or, ‘ leader,” 
above. 
of the pine 
shoots upward in its more 
rapid growth. Soon the 
pines begin here and there 
to tower above the other 
trees. Their branches 

Fig. 284. Spawn of the “ mushroom” shown 
in Fig. 283 as it makes its way through the 
wood of the tree. 
reach out and elbow their way above the tops of the 
