Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-07-07

actment of more stringent laws, patrol
regulations, and methods of fire fight
ing.
The results following forest fires
are studied to determine whether or
not bnrned-over lands can be made
again to produce a forest crop. The
first inquiry here is, How badly has
the forest been injured? II only the
young growth has been killed. the
problem is very different from that
presented when the ground il swept
clean of forest. In the former case,
II there are enough seed.bearing trees
left. nature requires only protection
while sho does her work OF reforesta-
tion. But II the ground has been clean
swept she must be materially assist
ed II proper forest conditions and
growth are to be reestablished within
any reasonable space of time.
The field party in Maine Will first
investigate the extent of damage
which fire has done to the forests
Next it will examine as to the exist
ence of any natural reproduction CT
the original forest. Since the worst
| fires were only year ago, little in
the way Of reproduction may be ex-
pected In the areas burned over. But
what does appear will be carefully
noted and areas burned over two,
three. four, FIVE and more years ago
will be compared with each other and
with the one-year-old burns This
work Is done by taking sample strip
| acres, laying them OFF so as to get the
| best general average OF the territory,
and then counting all the seedlings
and measuring all the trees on these
strips The different kinds OF trees
encountered and the varying forest
conditions. as of soil. etc, are also re-
corded In this way an estimate can
be formed OF how fast natural repro
duction takes place.
When this work has been hnished
the problem remains. how to get back
good. dense, normal growing forest.
| This is accomplished in one of two
ways The first plan Is adopted when
the stand OF trees is found to be open,
scraggy and in lunches, and consists
| in helping nature by protecting her
against fire and stock as perfectly as
possible In addition, the soil may
be stirred to aid natural seeding, and,
| finally, seeds may be scattered on the
bare spots The second plan is used
where the natural reproduction is al
most ont of the question. In that
case the only resource is tree plant
ing This is a special branch of the
work of the bureau, and one in which
great success has been achieved
Since nearly all of the timberland
OF Maine is under private ownership
the results of the study must find
their principal application in recon-
mendations to individual land owners.
| But as the bureau and the state are
cooperating in the study. whatever
| recommendation are made will have
| added TO their scientific value the
weight of state interest and approval.
Unless burned-over areas are thus
| protected and encouraged forest de
terioration is inevitable. An inferior
species of tree will usurp the ground
and postpone for years, If not forever
IA reproduction of the original forest.
| So that forest fires not only mean i'm
mediate and present financial loss in
| the destruction of timber and young
growth. but they also alter conditions
| that inferior grades of forest take the
| place of better growth. 1t Is to es-
cape this double evil that Maine has
secured the assistance of the Bureau
of Forestry in the cooperative fire
study which is now about to begin.