fringing 6acR i$t ^oxtzt 



days after the fiery whirlwind has passed by. 

 Being winged and exceedingly light, thousands 

 are sometimes blown for miles. It would thus 

 appear that the millions of lodge-pole seeds re- 

 leased by fire begin under most favorable con- 

 ditions. Falling as they do, upon earth cleaned 

 for their reception, there is little or no competi- 

 tion and but few enemies. The fire has banished 

 most of the injurious animals, consumed com- 

 petitors and their seeds, and prepared an ashen, 

 mineralized seed-bed; not a leaf shades it, and 

 altogether it is an ideal place for the lodge-pole 

 seed and seedlings. 



It seems extraordinary that fire, the arch- 

 enemy of the lodge-pole pine, should so largely 

 contribute to the forest extension of this tree. 

 It is not only one of the most inflammable of 

 trees but it is easily killed by fire. Despite these 

 weaknesses, such are the remarkable character- 

 istics of this species that an increase in the num- 

 ber of forest fires in the West will enable this 

 tree to extend its holdings; on the other hand, 

 a complete cessation of fires would, in time, al- 

 most eliminate it from the forest! 



213 



