3T8 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



Mason, in his publication ^^ on lodgepole pine in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, emphasizes the importance of grazing as a means of fire protec- 

 tion in lodgepole forests. His statement in part is as follows : 



"Besides the active measures taken to prevent and extinguish fires, such as 

 lookout stations, telephone lines, roads and trails, patrol, and the like, certain 

 Coordinate lines of forest work may be handled in a manner to insure that the 

 fire danger will be kept at the minimum. The most important of these in the 

 case of lodgepole pine is the grazing of livestock, particularly sheep. In the 

 lodgepole-pine region fire almost invariably spreads by means of grass and 

 weeds. A grass fire travels very rapidly and soon spreads over large areas. 

 The grass of the lodgepole-pine region becomes sun-cured early in July and 

 dries very rapidly after summer showers which dampen other inflammable ma- 

 terial for several days. Thorough grazing on the dangerous areas by sheep 

 would dispose of most of the inflammable material. Old grass left over from 

 the previous year is particularly inflammable and makes a very hot fire. Par- 

 ticularly heavy grazing along trails, secondary ridge tops, and certain section 

 lines would be a means of securing fire lines at frequent intervals. When graz- 

 ing in the timber, sheep trample and wear out the down litter and other debris, 

 greatly hastening its decay." 



Regarding grazing as a factor in fire prevention Sparhawk reports 

 as follows : 



"The most important benefit to the forest which can be attributed to grazing 

 is the reduction in quantity of inflammable ground cover and the consequent 

 decrease in fire hazard. It is not probahle that the number of fires can be 

 reduced in this way, but their intensity and consequently their size and the 

 amount of damage done, is bound to decrease with a decrease in the quantity 

 of fuel on the ground. This is particularly apt to be true in a forest of the 

 western yellow pine type, where fire seldom runs in the crowns but nearly 

 always on the ground. If the ground cover is scanty, the older timber is to a 

 certain extent immune from serious damage by surface fires, and there is more 

 likelihood that occasional patches of reproduction will escape destruction. 

 Entire denudation of the soil, such as occurs on much-used bed grounds and 

 along driveways, absolutely prevents fires from spreading in such places, but 

 of course destroys any reproduction which may be present. Light or moderate 

 grazing does not remove enough of the cover to stop fires, but may consider- 

 ably reduce their heat and rapidity of spread and make them easier to combat. 

 During a dry season spots where danger of fire is greatest may be grazed as 

 closely as possible." 



CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICAL APPLICATION 



From the foregoing data I have attempted to formulate a few con- 

 clusions which will apply generally in the management of grazing on 



'" Mason, D. T. Utilization and ^Management of Lodgepole Pine in the Rocky 

 Mountains. U. S. Dept. Agr, Bull. 234, 1915. 



