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OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: MONTHLY BULLETIN 



tailed or destroyed entirely. The scars are produced by the heat 

 which destroys the cambium layer of the bark, causing the latter to 

 drop off, leaving a large wound. Fire scars range from a foot to 

 8 or 10 feet up the side of the tree, depending upon the intensity 

 of the fire. Decay almost invariably sets in at the scar, which 

 always destroys a certain portion of the trunk and in younger trees 

 often prevents maturity. 



Fires are always more destructive when they follow logging 

 operations. The tops of the trees scattered through the woods, 

 termed "slash," are veritable tinder for fire in high winds during 

 dry seasons. Under favorable conditions fire frequently kills all 

 growth, leaving the dead trees to decay for want of utilization. The 

 fire seasons occur from March to June and from October to Decenv 



"Forest weeds" which often succeed merchantable species following a burn 



ber, varying largely with meteorological conditions. The greatest 

 damage to woodlands results from spring burns, the growth being 

 most susceptible to injury at this season. 



Causes of Ohio forest fires. Causes of forest fires may be 

 ascribed to incendiarism, and carelessness by hunters or in burning 

 brush, or to railroads. Fires almost always are started by careless- 

 ness or with malicious intent. Instances may be traced to light- 

 ning, but they are comparatively rare. Irresponsible individuals 

 have been known repeatedly to- burn hundreds of acres of woodland 



