124 Missouri Agricultural Rejiort. 



ther reduced until it has almost ceased to be an important factor in 

 the lumber production of the State. The oaks — black, white, red, 

 Texan and others — compose the bulk of the forest and have con- 

 tributed extensively to the manufacture of lumber, ties, posts, 

 cooperage, wagon stock and furniture. The black walnut and white 

 oak have long since been removed, one to furnish gun stocks for 

 our soldiers, the other, oars for our navy. What remains today, 

 of the Ozark forests, is but a sad reminder of what was or might 

 be. 



In parts of Arkansas the shortleaf pine reproduces most abund- 

 antly. This is not true, however, of Missouri, where pine is followed 

 by black jack oak, post oak, pale leaf hickory and other scrub 

 species. The fires kill the young pines but the more hardy oaks 

 sprout up and form a dense thicket, smothering out the valuable 

 species. In time, the pine may reclaim the land, but it will re- 

 quire centuries for nature to do it unaided by man. There are 

 practicable ways of doing this, but time forbids details. Protection 

 from fire, leaving of seed trees, girdling scrub oaks, and artificial 

 replanting, are means which, under wise direction, will make the 

 rugged Ozark hills pay their tribute to man's enterprise. 



FIRE PREVENTION. 



The prevention of fires may seem to many neither practicable 

 or desirable, and yet forestry can never be a complete success until 

 adequate fire protection is assured. Fires are very common over 

 much of the Ozark region, being usually started by the farmers to 

 improve the grazing. There is absolutely no doubt remaining in my 

 mind after my experience in the Ozarks, that fires injure and may 

 destroy the large trees, kill seedlings and young trees, and impov- 

 erish the soil. Instead of improving the range, they gradually de- 

 stroy it by robbing the soil and causing a dense growth of hard- 

 wood sprouts which choke out nutritious grasses and herbage. 



These fires may be largely controlled. I have found by ex- 

 perience that it is not so much regulations against them, as favor- 

 able public sentiment for their suppression that minimizes the 

 danger. Adequate laws, backed up by systematic enforcement 

 and accompanied by a campaign of education that will make such 

 law enforcement popular, will solve the problem. Keep down 

 fires and nature herself will restore the forests. 



Fire protection is essentially a function of the State. Though 

 the amount of State and Government land is so small, compara- 



