REPORT ON FORESTS. 107 



formerly haidwoods thrived, now Pine is the only species that 

 can be profitably grown. 



It is not necessary, however, to go to Germany to see the 

 effect of the destruction of humus on the welfare of the forest- 

 Abundant illustration is found in South Jersey. The conditions 

 are somewhat different from those in Europe, for there the litter 

 is removed from the forest by the peasants, while here it is 

 burned on the ground. The mineral substances remain, but 

 when the humus is destroyed they are probably, for the most 

 part, washed away in the deep porous sand. 



The most serious injury from fire in New Jersey is its effect on 

 the reproduction of the forest. Hope is frequently expressed for 

 the future of the Pine in New Jersey because the Pitch Pine 

 springs up so persistently after fire. It is true that throughout 

 the fire-scarred tracts small Pine appears in great profusion after 

 fires, but a close examination reveals the fact that in many cases 

 these are not seedlings, but sprouts from the stools of the trees 

 which were apparently killed. It is true that seeds germinate 

 quickly on the sandy soils because of the capacity of the soil to 

 become readily heated. But where the bare soil is exposed to 

 the scorching sun and wind, as on large stretches of land in the 

 coastal regions of South Jersey, it is difficult for seedlings to sur- 

 vive. 



MORAL EFFECT OF FIRES ON POPULATION. 



It is obvious that where the forest is constantly exposed to fire 

 and there is no adequate protection, its value must be greatly 

 depreciated. The result is that the timber is often cut before 

 its maturity. Landowners believe that with proper protection 

 against fire the value of forest property will be greatly increased. 



The fires have been so abundant that the people have come 

 to look upon them as inevitable, and there is a deplorable lack 

 of real interest among land-owners in regard to any attempt to 

 introduce State protection. Large tracts of land are owned by 

 non-resident capitalists, and timber-stealing is very common, 

 especially after fires. When the timber is killed many persons 

 consider it better to use the dead trees for cordwood than to allow 



