Article June 30, 1923 Issue

Vines and Trees

VIVIAN V. CLARK

An engineer surveying a line through a large jungle in the tropics of South America became interested in the apparent strife between the climbing vines and the trees. It seemed as if the trees were being attacked by the vines, which would wind around them, sometimes singly, sometimes in pairs, in a most aggressive manner. Occasionally, a tree would attempt to burst through a tightly wound vine; but if unsuccessful, its growth would be stunted. Sometimes a vine would be found embedded in a tree, or would be seen holding its sinister spiral form after the tree had decayed. Occasionally a tree would bear the winding marks of a vine which had perished. It appeared, however, that in this silent conflict in the jungle the vines were all too often victorious.

Near the end of the expedition the line ran directly into a perfect tree. The native helpers gave a shout of joy when they saw it. The tree rose high above the jungle, was straight as an arrow, pure white, and glistened in the sunlight. The jungle and vines had given this perfect tree freedom. As the engineer approached, he thought of the lines:—

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