70 BOTANTCAL SURVEY OF THE CCEUR D'ALENE MOUNTAINS. 



without chopping. It is only by growing in such masses that the spe- 

 cies in their early stage stand a chance to survive the destructive forces 

 of wind and snow. 



In the belt of Yellow Pine there is always more or less of a grassy 

 covering, which is replaced very soon after being burned. This acts the 

 part of the humus in the White Pine Zone and favors the germination 

 of seeds. 



The species of conifers that come up over the burned areas are the 

 same as those which grew there before, the only variation being in the 

 relative number of individuals of the various kinds upon a certain 

 measure of ground. Tims, upon a piece of bottom land previously 

 covered to the extent of 70 per cent by the white pine and hemlock the 

 black pine may come in and form perhaps 90 per cent of the total 

 stand, or hemlock may crowd everything else out on the slopes, or 

 the white fir do the same. This, however, is not lasting, for eventually 

 the same balance which existed before the fire is restored. 



The principal causes of forest fires in the Couir d'Alenes are pros- 

 pectors, railroads, timber cutters, farmers, camping parties, and 

 maliciousness. 



First come the prospectors, as the originators of the larger number 

 of fires. The dense forest and the deep humus covering the soil are 

 great hindrances to prospecting. To clear away these and expose 

 croppiugs or " float" from the mineral-bearing veins which may exist 

 in the neighborhood the forest is fired. When a mineral claim is 

 located, it is customary to employ fire to help in stripping the ground, 

 if heavily timbered ; that it spreads does not matter, in fact no attention 

 whatever is given to it. When it is considered that the Coeur d'Alenes 

 are seamed with mineral-bearing lodes, that many men are engaged 

 throughout the summer in searching out these veins, and that they 

 never hesitate to fire the forest to expedite their work, it need surprise 

 no one that every season hundreds of forest fires are started in every 

 section where mineral is known to exist. While each of these may not 

 cover an extensive space, collectively they form a very large area. The 

 first burning, however, does not suffice for prospecting purposes. The 

 fallen trees soon render the country more difficult of access than ever. 

 It is only when a region is given a second burning that the ground 

 is well cleared for years to come, and the prospectors know this only 

 too well. 



Railroads come next as the originators of fires. Xo line is ever con- 

 structed through the timber that is not flanked by two strips of forest 

 fires so long as the timber lasts in proximity to the road. During the 

 time of construction the right of way is cleared by fire whenever prac- 

 ticable; it spreads from the construction camps, and no efforts are made 

 to check it, except so far as relates to the safety of that particular camp. 

 When the line is in operation, sparks from engines — never provided 

 with efficient spark arresters— start extensive conflagrations. P>oth 

 sides of an embankment a few years old, and the partially or wholly 



