Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- PREFACE -- PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION -- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- PART I. VEGETATION AND SOIL DEVELOPMENT -- I. THE ORIGINAL LANDSCAPE AND THE HAND OF MAN -- II. VEGETATION DEVELOPMENT -- climatic climax vegetation -- vegetation classification -- the hierarchy of climatic climax communities -- priseres -- subseres and subclimaxes -- plagioseres and plagioclimaxes -- ecological status as a basis for vegetation classification -- III. SOIL DEVELOPMENT -- soil-parent-material -- weathering -- the products of weathering -- organic matter in the soil -- soil structure -- leaching -- base status and pH value -- colloidal properties -- pedalfers and pedocals -- the zonal concept -- limitations of the zonal concept -- the nutrient cycle -- PART II VEGETATION AND SOILS OUTSIDE THE TROPICS -- IV. CONIFEROUS FORESTS -- 1. THE BOREAL FOREST -- dominant species -- distinct associations -- serai communities -- the nutrient cycle and the soil -- settlement in the boreal forest -- 2. THE SUB-ALPINE FOREST -- central and western Europe -- the Mediterranean area -- North America -- 3. THE LOWLAND AND MONTANE CONIFEROUS FORESTS OF NORTH AMERICA -- the lake forest -- the western forests -- connections between the lake forest and the western forests -- the pine forests of south-eastern U.S.A. -- 4. THE NATURE AND ADAPTABILITY OF CONIFEROUS FOREST -- V. THE MIXED FORESTS OF MIDDLE LATITUDES -- 1. ECOTONE MIXED FORESTS -- European Russia -- mixed forest ecotones of Europe -- eastern Asia -- North America -- 2. EVERGREEN MIXED FORESTS -- the Mediterranean mixed forest -- 3. EVERGREEN MIXED FORESTS OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE -- South America -- Australasia -- South Africa -- VI. BROAD-LEAVED FORESTS OF MIDDLE LATITUDES -- 1. DECIDUOUS SUMMER FOREST -- the European formation -- the American formation