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can be done to improve forest conditions in the state. That these state- 
ments are not exaggerated is a matter of fairly easy demonstration by any 
person who will go through an average forest in his vicinity and make a 
close examination for the young trees which stand as a prophecy of the 
future.forest. In almost every instance they will be found to occur in such 
small numbers as to indicate a constantly waning forest. Indeed, in very 
many cases not a single seedling or sapling of a desirable species can be 
found. 
A further examination of these areas within our state shows that in 
by far too many cases they have suffered damage by fire. In very many 
instances these fires have spread into the timber tract from the right of 
way of railroads or from meadow fires which have been started for the 
purpose of cleaning and haye escaped control. However they may have 
originated, their effect upon the forest has been two-fold. First, in a ser- 
ious damage to the mature trees and second, in practically obliterating 
all the young growth which may have become established. As a result 
of the action of such fires, not only is the young growth killed but the soil 
is placed in such condition as to preclude a future growth for several years. 
The damage by forest fires in the state during the past year, which was 
by no means an exceptional one, amounted at a conservative estimate to 
at least $100,000. A very large part of this loss could have been avoided 
by exercising ordinary care. Very much more of it could have been pre- 
vented by the rigorous application of the laws fixing the responsibility for 
the occurrence and spread of forest fires. 
The value of these wood lots as they stand might also be very greatly 
improved in many cases if improvement cuttings of various kinds were 
undertaken. Almost all of them need “cleanings” in order to remove from 
them various undesirable forms. It must be remembered, however, that 
such cleanings must not be too vigorously undertaken lest too great an 
amount of soil be exposed to the action of the sun and the wind. Sudden 
changes in ecologic conditions are particularly fatal to young tree growth. 
Where the undergrowth or undesirable forms are at all dense, probably 
not to exceed 25% should be removed at any one time and the ground 
should not be cut over again in less than four or five years. In these clean- 
ings the object should be to remove all forms the absence of which would 
improve the forest and give the trees left standing an opportunity for a 
more perfect development. In this cleaning should ultimately be removed 
