244 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



by the birds, and probably much of it is already in the 

 ground before the fire. The trees with heavier seed 

 creep in gradually after a few years. 



Fires may kill certain non-resistant species, and thus 

 stop their supply of seed. The tendency of repeated 

 fires is to reduce the number of species in a stand. 



The Prevention of Fires 



In some sections of the country forest fires have 

 always been of such common occurrence that there is a 

 popular notion that they cannot be prevented. The risk 

 from fires can never be entirely eliminated, for in the for- 

 est there is always inflammable material which is very 

 easily ignited. They may, however, be largely pre- 

 vented, and under efficient organization their damage 

 may be kept down to a very small amount. The prob- 

 lem is like that in cities, where fires can never be entirely 

 eliminated, but where the risk of loss to property may be 

 reduced almost to insignificance. 



For the successful protection of a forest from fire 

 the-re are necessary: 



1. The elimination, so far as possible, of the causes 

 of fires. 



2. A proper organization of the forest, including 

 the disposal of slash, the opening of roads, the construc- 

 tion of trails, etc. 



3. An adequate supervision. 



4. Facilities for fighting fires, including an ade- 

 quate force of men, proper implements, etc. 



