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AMERICAN FORESTRY 



the foresters say, through a combina- 

 tion of the relatively rare seed periods 

 and the annual recurrence of fires which 

 run over the ground and destroy both 

 the seed and such little trees as may 

 start. The thick bark of the mature 



longleaf pine makes it comparatively 

 fire-resistant, but tender young trees 

 are readily killed, and consequently the 

 necessity for protecting them in a critical 

 year like the present is particularly 

 urgent. 



WINTER FOREST FIRES 



REPORTS for the winter fire 

 season in the southern Appala- 

 chians covering the months of 

 January and February, recently 

 received by the Forest Service, show 

 that the winter has been dry and that 

 fires have occurred on land which the 

 government is acquiring under the pro- 

 visions of the Weeks Law. While these 

 two months are normally not so dry as 

 the fall or the spring fire season, serious 

 fires may occur in an open winter, 

 though they are not usual. 



During January there were nine fires, 

 five of which covered more than ten 

 acres each. In February there were ten, 

 of which only two spread over more 

 than ten acres. All of these fires 



occurred during the latter part of Jan- 

 uary and the first of February, when the 

 weather was unusually dry. 



The fact that the fires were reported 

 from southern Virginia to northern 

 Georgia, shows that the danger from 

 fire was widespread. However, they 

 occurred on only four of the twelve 

 areas within which land is being pur- 

 chased. 



At least three-fourths of the fires 

 were due to railroads. Forest officers 

 say that until the southern states adopt 

 and enforce laws requiring the use of 

 adequate spark arresters on railroad 

 locomotives, losses from forest fires 

 can scarcely be prevented. 



THE FOREST RANGER. 



Up through the high lands, the low lands, the snow lands; 



Covered with dust and decay of dead trees; 

 Mushing the mire lands ; facing scorched fire lands — 



The ranger's the man who is there, if you please! 



Fording swift furies of wild mountain torrents ; 



Bound by the weight of his fifty-pound pack; 

 Over forest-choked passes; through torn jungle masses — 



The ranger — it's him you should pat on the back! 



Twelve-month or eight-month, the long or short-term man; 



The man who puts seedlings in dead seedless slopes ; 

 Roustabout, ax-man, college man, pack-man — 



Your hat to them all, to their aims and their hopes! 



Out in the wilderness, stripped of all mildness; 



Blood pulsing strong like the full sap of fall ; 

 Hearts full of gentleness; memories the tenderest — 



It's the ranger — here's health to them all! 



P. C. Smith, 713 East Olive Street, Seattle, Wash. 



