DANGERS AXD DISEASES. 

 DANGERS AND DISEASES. 



49 



The White Pine is subject to a considerable number of destructive influences even when 

 growing spontaneously, but a large proportion of these might be avoided if properly understood 

 and guarded against, since they are in great part due to human agency. 



INJURIES BY HUMAN AGENCY. 



The subject of forest fires has been so fully discussed that it is unnecessary here to treat it 

 in detail, although the pine forests of the Northern States have suffered more irreparable injury 

 from this than from all other destructive agencies combined. From the numerous suggestions 

 that have beeu made respecting protection from fire and from unnecessary injuries in general, the 

 most important appear to be: 



(1) That a well-digested code of laws, capable of prompt enforcement, based upon the 

 recommendation of a nonpolitical forest commission, is of primary importance. 



Fio. 4. Girdled White Pine continuing to grow. 



(2) That a correct public sentiment, encouraged by a wider dissemination of information 

 concerning the value of forest products and the time required for their growth, will have more 

 influence than all other means together in preventing unnecessary destruction. 



Unlike the Loblolly Tine of the Southern States, or the Eed Pine with which it is commonly 

 associated, White Pine has a thin bark during the first thirty to fifty years, which affords but 

 slight protection from fire. Consequently, the species suffers much in young growths from surface 

 tires, which do little or no harm to the thick-barked pines and hardwoods. In the mature trees 

 the growing layer is much better protected, as the bark with age becomes proportionately thicker 

 than that of Red Pine. 



Related to the foregoing, and properly placed under the head of injuries to be charged to 



human responsibility, are wounds occasioned by cattle. A pine forest is less liable to injury 



from the browsing of cattle than one composed of deciduous trees, and in the Eastern States old 



pastures commonly grow up to pine, the deciduous species being kept down by the cattle. t ^But in 



20233 No. 22 4 



