242 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



ting directly after the fire. Often, however, it is not 

 practicable to make a cutting in a given part of a forest 

 just when desired. 



When some of the trees in an immature stand are 

 killed or injured, there is always a loss. If the stand is 

 cut, there is a loss through cutting trees which are in full 

 productive growth. If the stand is allowed to grow, the 

 final yield is reduced nearly in proportion to the reduction 

 in the number of trees killed in the dominant or leading 

 class. 



An owner is often confronted with the problem of 

 dealing with an immature stand in which a part of the 

 trees say 30 to 60 per cent. are killed or injured by 

 fire. If the remaining trees are sound and thrifty, the 

 best plan is usually to cut out the dead and damaged 

 individuals, utilizing such as are marketable, and permit 

 the remainder to mature, provided enough can be real- 

 ized to cover substantially the cost of the work. 



Influence on Reproduction. Reproduction in the 

 forests of this country has been more influenced by fire 

 than by any other one factor. The present composition, 

 form, density, and yield of a great many stands are due 

 to the influence of fires on reproduction. 



Repeated fires prevent reproduction by destroying the 

 seed and killing the seedlings. This is well illustrated 

 in certain areas of the South, where longleaf pine is not 

 reproducing itself not because there is a lack of seed or 

 because the conditions for germination are unfavorable, 

 but because the annual fires kill the young trees. 



