madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第43章
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on； we cannot expect her to work for us。 And what do you think will
happen then？ She will set to work for herself。 The rich grasses will
dwindle for want of ammonia （that is smelling salts）； and the rich clovers
for want of phosphates （that is bone…earth）： and in their places will come
over the bank the old weeds and grass off the moor； which have not room
to get in now； because the ground is coveted already。 They want no
ammonia nor phosphatesat all events they have none； and that is why the
cattle on the moor never get fat。 So they can live where these rich
grasses cannot。 And then they will conquer and thrive； and the Field will
turn into Wild once more。
Ah； my child； thank God for your forefathers； when you look over that
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boundary mark。 For the difference between the Field and the Wild is the
difference between the old England of Madam How's making； and the new
England which she has taught man to make； carrying on what she had only
begun and had not time to finish。
That moor is a pattern bit left to show what the greater part of this land
was like for long ages after it had risen out of the sea； when there was little
or nothing on the flat upper moors save heaths； and ling； and club…mosses；
and soft gorse； and needle… whin； and creeping willows； and furze and fern
upon the brows； and in the bottoms oak and ash； beech and alder； hazel
and mountain ash； holly and thorn； with here and there an aspen or a
buckthorn （berry…bearing alder as you call it）； and everywherewhere he
could thrust down his long root； and thrust up his long shoots that
intruding conqueror and insolent tyrant； the bramble。 There were sedges
and rushes； too； in the bogs； and coarse grass on the forest pasturesor
〃leas〃 as we call them to this day round here… …but no real green fields； and；
I suspect； very few gay flowers； save in spring the sheets of golden gorse；
and in summer the purple heather。 Such was old Englandor rather； such
was this land before it was England； a far sadder； damper； poorer land than
now。 For one man or one cow or sheep which could have lived on it then；
a hundred can live now。 And yet； what it was once； that it might become
again；it surely would round here； if this brave English people died out of
it； and the land was left to itself once more。
What would happen then； you may guess for yourself； from what you
see happen whenever the land is left to itself； as it is in the wood above。
In that wood you can still see the grass ridges and furrows which show
that it was once ploughed and sown by man； perhaps as late as the time of
Henry the Eighth； when a great deal of poor land； as you will read some
day； was thrown out of tillage； to become forest and down once more。
And what is the mount now？ A jungle of oak and beech； cherry and holly；
young and old all growing up together； with the mountain ash and bramble
and furze coming up so fast beneath them； that we have to cut the paths
clear again year by year。 Why； even the little cow…wheat； a very old…
world plant； which only grows in ancient woods； has found its way back
again； I know not whence； and covers the open spaces with its pretty
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yellow and white flowers。 Man had conquered this mount； you see； from
Madam How； hundreds of years ago。 And she always lets man conquer
her； because Lady Why wishes man to conquer： only he must have a fair
fight with Madam How first； and try his strength against hers to the utmost。
So man conquered the wood for a while； and it became cornfield instead
of forest： but he was not strong and wise enough three hundred years ago
to keep what he had conquered； and back came Madam How； and took the
place into her own hands； and bade the old forest trees and plants come
back againas they would come if they were not stopped year by year；
down from the wood； over the pastureskilling the rich grasses as they
went； till they met another forest coming up from below； and fought it for
many a year； till both made peace； and lived quietly side by side for ages。
Another forest coming up from below？ Where would it come from？
From where it is now。 Come down and look along the brook； and
every drain and grip which runs into the brook。 What is here？
Seedling alders； and some withies among them。
Very well。 You know how we pull these alders up； and cut them
down； and yet they continually come again。 Now； if we and all human
beings were to leave this pasture for a few hundred years； would not those
alders increase into a wood？ Would they not kill the grass； and spread
right and left； seeding themselves more and more as the grass died； and
left the ground bare； till they met the oaks and beeches coming down the
hill？ And then would begin a great fight； for years and years； between
oak and beech against alder and willow。
But how can trees fight？ Could they move or beat each other with
their boughs？
Not quite that； though they do beat each other with their boughs；
fiercely enough； in a gale of wind； and then the trees who have strong and
stiff boughs wound those who have brittle and limp boughs； and so hurt
them； and if the storms come often enough； kill them。 But among these
trees in a sheltered valley the larger and stronger would kill the weaker
and smaller by simply overshadowing their tops； and starving their roots；
starving them； indeed； so much when they grow very thick； that the poor
little acorns； and beech mast； and alder seeds would not be able to sprout
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at all。 So they would fight； killing each other's children； till the war
endedI think I can guess how。
How？
The beeches are as dainty as they are beautiful； and they do not like to
get their feet wet。 So they would venture down the hill only as far as the
dry ground lasts； and those who tried to grow any lower would die。 But
the oaks are hardy； and do not care much where they grow。 So they
would fight their way down into the wet ground among the alders and
willows； till they came to where their enemies were so thick and tall； that
the acorns as they fell could not sprout in the darkness。 And so you
would have at last； along the hill…side； a forest of beech and oak； lower
down a forest of oak and alder； and along the stream…side alders and
willows only。 And that would be a very fair example of the great law of
the struggle for existence； which causes the competition of species。
What is that？
Madam How is very stern； though she is always perfectly just； and
therefore she makes every living thing fight for its life； and earn its bread；
from its birth till its death； and rewards it exactly according to its deserts；
and neither more nor less。
And the competition of
