226 BURNING OF PASTURE LANDS 



by brush, which is usually of a denser stand than that before the 

 fire. 



Each summer between 1907 and 191 2 the author had occasion, 

 in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon, to observe the 

 development of the plant cover after fires of varying seriousness 

 on different types of range. Notes t^ken at that time show that 

 as a result of a single fire on densely covered brush areas where 

 willow (Salix), buckthorn (Ceanothus), black sagebrush {Arle- 

 misia), mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus), and serviceberry 

 (Amelanchier) predominated, this vegetation, much of which was 

 highly palatable to sheep, was destroyed temporarily, and the 

 grazing capacity was greatly lowered. The first three years 

 after the fire a great variety of herbaceous plants became estab- 

 lished, few of which rank high as forage. The following peren- 

 nials were among the more conspicuous species: Fireweed 

 (Chamaenerion), lousewort {Pedicular is), meadow rue {Thalic- 

 trum), mountain bromegrass (Bromus), aconite (Aconitum), 

 goldenrod (Solidago), and everlasting (Antennaria) . The cover 

 as a whole was all but useless for grazing purposes. In addition, 

 there were several annuals, among which Douglas knotweed 

 (Polygonum), Androsace, shepherd's-purse (Bursa), and downy 

 bromegrass (Bromus) predominated. Practically all of these 

 plants are relatively drought-enduring and are able to develop 

 and perpetuate themselves on an inferior soil type — a soil 

 whose water-holding capacity, according to tests carefully con- 

 ducted by the writer, was appreciably reduced by the fire. After 

 the third year the more aggressive and hardy shrubs (in this test, 

 species that were not palatable to stock) rapidly reoccupied the 

 ground. The fifth year after the fire there was, on the whole, 

 an impenetrable tangle of chaparral which had little or no value 

 as browse. 



Oftentimes, especially on heavily timbered areas where the 

 heat from the fire was intense, the replacement of the original 

 cover of vegetation probably requires as long a period as where 

 the unchecked action of erosion has left its devastating im- 

 pression. It is not unusual after a fire to find the soil devoid of 

 the all-important nitrifying bacteria and other life as well as of 



