REFORESTATION IN NORTHERN IDAHO 43 



Hilda, Rubus nutkanus, Disporum trachycarpum, Arenaria macro- 

 phylla, Antennaria luzuloides, Coplis occidenlalis, Viola canina, 

 two species of Lathy rus, Vicia sp., Zygadenus venenosus, Frilil- 

 laria lanceolala, and Erythroniwm grandiflorum. The three last 

 named plants occurred in considerable abundance and upon 

 investigation it was found that their bulbs were, in every case 

 examined, at depths of 5 to 7 inches below the soil surface. These 

 bulbous plants could have been hardly so abundant had they de- 

 pended upon winds or other natural carrying agents for the 

 distribution of their seed. It is also quite probable that many 

 if not all the shrubs in which an underground root-stock develop- 

 ment obtains were able to withstand the effects of the fire. In 

 fact, one can with difficulty account for the abundance and 

 general distribution of such plants in any other way, for their 

 growth habits, are such as to preclude the possibility of so much 

 development in a single season from seed. It is of interest here 

 to note that in spite of the terrific heat which must have pre- 

 vailed over those mountain slopes, except where the undergrowth 

 was dense, a considerable depth of humus remained intact. 

 Where this was wholly consumed and the soil had been washed 

 bare by rains there was a fairly complete turf of Funaria and 

 Marchaniia along with certain herbaceous plants already given. 

 The effects of this forest fire were more profound in certain 

 parts of the forest than in others, depending somewhat upon 

 the topography of the devastated region. In the " draws" or 

 small lateral canons where growth conditions were such as to 

 produce the most excellent stand of white pine (Pinus monii- 

 cola), Douglas fir, white fir and cedar, the fire was most destruc- 

 tive, leaving no trees alive. Whereas, on lateral or secondary 

 ridges it was frequently observed that from 25% to 75% of these 

 species, 'including yellow pine, survived the heat. These con- 

 stituted the seed trees so valuable in the reforestation now 

 going forward. 



A diligent search was made for any seedlings of the cone- 

 bearing trees characteristic of the region under observation, 

 and a few were found. A limited number of these (all were 

 Larix occidenlalis) were from seed germinated in 1911, but the 



