30 



141. Aside from the measures which may be taken to 

 prevent the spread of the pine bark beetle, there is little 

 that the owner can do to combat the attacks of insects. He 

 can, however, do something by way of prevention. If the 

 stands are kept in a thrifty, healthy condition, they are less 

 liable to attack than if allowed to become unthrifty; and the 

 removal of tops, dead, and dying trees, if practicable, is 

 recommended, for they furnish a breeding ground for 

 insects. 



Sedtion 3. Fires 



142. Fire is the worst enemy of the forest. It destroys 

 the seeds that are lying in the litter ready to germinate. It 

 kills the seedlings and saplings that would form future 

 stands. It sometimes kills the larger trees; or if it does not 

 kill, it injures them; the roots that are near the surface are 

 scorched; and the bark is killed in patches about the bases 

 of the trees. Even when these patches are healed over they 

 leave bad places in the lumber that lower its quality and value. 

 Often several feet of the bttom logs in burned woods must 

 be cut off and thrown away because of old fire scars. 



143. The litter and humus are burned up and the soil is 

 impoverished. This retards the growth of the trees, and it 

 lowers their vitality, so that they are more liable to the at- 

 tacks of fungi and insects. 



144. Forest fires are sometimes followed by an increas- 

 ed proportion of scrub oak, sumuch, and other inferior or 

 worthless trees; and it may take years for the more useful 

 trees to crowd out this undesirable growth. 



145. Some farmers say that they cannot protect their 

 woodlands from fire. Speaking generally, these are the ones 

 that have not tried. Woods can be protected from fire. 



