Show orlain of bore rore I 1 ta ls the life of plants as well as of orl mals began in the water and from water plants of 0 simple structure there gradually developed the forms fitted to thrive upon land writes william J hopkins in chicago record the first land plants ot of which we have eI evidence dence ali tough probably not the hist first hi st that existed were fernlike fern lern like in character As their number became greater grealer tile the crowding forced each plant to reich reach out higher after the sunlight ind and the air in this struggle tor for existence began that evolution of those most fitted to survive which has resulted in the forms that we know today to day ellse ise which developed the tallest trunks conquered the shorter varieties and forced them either to die out completely or to occupy less favorable situations the trees of 0 the first great forests which became the beds of coal of the principal coal forming period were vere weak in structure not far removed from the terns ferns with pithy trunks requiring much moisture and warmth they were not well adapted to propagate and spread as their seeds eie very small and incapable of withstanding rigorous conditions from these forms there gradually developed the palms and trees somewhat resembling the present cone bearing forms cr evergreens ever greens this process of development continuing until in comparatively recent ages camo came the prevailing trees of our modern forests these may be divided into two great classes the narrow leaved cone trees or evergreens ever greens and tile broad leaved trees which usually shed their leaves in the autumn all have a great roat advantage over the earliest f forms in their strong trunks capable of supporting a great weight of branches and leaves and enabling them to attain eights ot of to feet hect abo alboy earth the fight for place ence Is a now chiefly ltd and bellat x between betwee 1 nAbe the i greens and the ever broad I 1 leaved adert or ous trees and in this declai broad leaved tres trees tre s are so bo that the ever far au pori evergreens greens have driven to a great already been DM 1 extent to th thela temperate cold eleas regions or to and less leaa favorable soils the aritt 0 methods ot of i spreading and rowell growls tho the distribution ot of forest treet tree not only upon the character tics bics ot of the particular kind and n its adaptability to the soil BOH and climet but alar also upon don the tha chance of 0 distri tru i tion ot of the seed beed and the against its destruction by animal i many trees are subject to the dep depress dc preil reds alons ot of various insect ener enemies nies whick may prevent seeding or may even d ft stroy the tree and the seeds of MOK BOB trees torm form a more or less Pala palau tab bit food tor for birds or beasts some uey are better protected than other against these chances ot of destruct destruction lon and the better protected trees treba stand i correspondingly better belter charice chance ol of la in creasing in numbers and sur the other kinds it the squirrels or tb wild pigs find the nuts ot of the ichii oak sweeter and more wholesome whole somi in those of some other oaks the white oaks will leave few it UT any descendants ants and will eventually alaa aliazi pear while the red oaks flourish flour ieh in entering upon new ground the trey trees having the lightest seeds will ie be thi the first to take possession their seeds te be ing carried to greater distances than those ot of the others other the light seeds ol of the willow or the seeds ol of the maDle which although heavier leave nave apoll them wing like attachments will n able their kind to tar far outstrip the nut bat bearing trees like the walnut bictory and oak these heavy seeded trees art all limited in their reproduction prica cally to the distance at which a nut ml falls to the ground or to the chance distribution by the forgotten hoards hoard 0 the squirrel by the swiftness of their march the light seeded plants will thus thu more quickly reach regions where the rainfall Is just sufficient to furnish tin the I 1 loots cots enough moisture or the growing season Is just long enough to enalla them to mature the wood of each yearl growth beyond this point they cau can not live the heavy seeded forni sars iq plodding surely along behind them and in the final struggle the trees best bat adapted to the soil at any given load ity will endure by the overwhelming of the others A |