were sliced from the log of this tree in a saw- 

 mill. The fourth cut split the pith of the tree, 

 and the startled sawyer beheld a number of 

 imbedded cones stuck along and around the 

 pith, the heart of this aged pine. These cones 

 and the numerous seeds which they contained 

 were approximately one hundred and fifty years 

 old. I planted two dozen of the seeds, and three 

 of these were fertile and sprouted. 



Old trees may carry hundreds or even thou- 

 sands of seed-filled cones. Once I counted 14,137 

 of these on the arms of one veteran lodge-pole. 

 If we allow but twenty seeds to the cone, this 

 tree alone held a good seed-reserve. Commonly 

 a forest fire does not consume the tree it kills. 

 With a lodge-pole it usually burns off the twigs 

 and the foliage, leaving many of the cones 

 unconsumed. The cones are excellent fire- 

 resisters, and their seeds usually escape injury, 

 even though the cones be charred. The heat, 

 however, melts the resinous sealing-wax that 

 holds the cone-scales closed. I have known the 

 heat of a forest fire to be so intense as to 

 break the seals on cones that were more than one 



22^ 



