214 FOREST VALUATION 



tions are conspicuous in the Pacific Northwest, and have ex- 

 tended to Michigan and New England. 



The importation of injurious fungi and insects is now guarded 

 against by national statutes and inspection. One serious fungous 

 disease, the white pine blister rust, has been checked by this 

 means. State inspection and control of injurious insects and 

 diseases, supplemented by the activities of the national govern- 

 ment, furnish a means of preventing future outbreaks similar to 

 that of the chestnut bark disease. Such aid should be chiefly 

 preventive in character, and can be invoked but seldom for the 

 control of native insects. 



211. Private Measures. Private owners may be forced by 

 state legislation to take measures to eliminate unusual fire risks 

 caused by their own operations. Laws making brush or slash 

 burning compulsory, especially along rights of way, are already 

 adopted in some states. Top-lopping is intended for the same 

 purpose. 



In addition to these compulsory private measures, owners of 

 forest property must expect to take extra precautions against 

 fire, similar to those adopted by factories and stores to supple- 

 ment the work of the fire department. Firebreaks should be 

 constructed and maintained for the protection of plantations, 

 and to guard against excessive hazards. The owner and his 

 tenants and employees should be prepared for fire fighting and 

 equipped with the most suitable tools for the purpose. 



212. Effect of Risks on the Business of Forest Production. 

 Mature timber, while in danger of being killed by fire, insects 

 or disease, or blown down, can usually be salvaged with only 

 partial loss. To the greatest danger of all, fire, it is moderately 

 resistant. Since systematic fire protection has been instituted in 

 the North and West, losses have averaged less than two-tenths 

 of one per cent annually, on the value protected. The risk has 

 never deterred investors from making purchases and speculating 

 on values of stumpage. 



With young, immature timber and reproduction, the same 

 cannot be said. A comparison of risks shows that the hazard is 

 less on small or young trees, from practically all sources excepting 



