Light Burning vs. Forest Management. 193 



that will clean up the debris in the forests and thus lessen the fire 

 danger without the loss of valuable reproduction. To systemati- 

 cally clean up the woods as many propose, by piling and burning 

 the debris, would mean an enormous expense, and would in most 

 cases be out of the question. And why this expense, especially 

 when there are other efficient means of protection? The Forest 

 Service is protecting public timber lands for about one-half per 

 cent, per acre, the Western Forestry and Conservation Associa- 

 tion from one cent to three cents per acre, but the "light-burners" 

 are paying at least ten cents and in some cases as high as twenty- 

 five cents per acre. 



Private timber holders have had very little use for fire as a 

 servant, except the cases mentioned above. With the coming of 

 Forest Management the "improper" uses of fire will very quickly 

 give way to the more rational uses. The Forest Service, to-day, 

 uses fire in several ways. Probably the most important is the 

 burning of tops and branches after logging, in regions where there 

 is great danger from fire. As a matter of fact the Service is the 

 only holder of timber lands in California that does this. The 

 cost of this piling and burning varies from $1.50 to $2.00 per acre. 

 The Service uses fire to aid reproduction in the Douglas Fir types 

 of the Northwest. Here by means of a systematic burning a 

 mineral soil seed-bed is prepared for the Douglas Fir and the less 

 valuable hemlock reproduction is gotten rid of. Fire is also used 

 occasionally to fight fire, that is, in cases that demand it, back- 

 firing is resorted to to save valuable property. In all the above 

 uses of fire it is never allowed to run at random ; it is systemati- 

 cally set out, and controlled absolutely. 



The rfesults of forest fires depend a great deal upon their in- 

 tensity, but the following results are to be noted in the case of 

 "light-burning" : 



1. Fire removes the nitrogen from the soil and makes it sterile, 



2. Fire removes the protective soil cover and promotes evapo- 

 ration. 



3. Fire injuries are closely followed by those of insects and 

 fungi. 



4. Fire causes pitchy butts and hence inferior lumber. 



5. Fire encourages weeds and brush. 



6. It changes valuable into inferior forest types. 



