THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST 59 



seldom perceptibly hurt, the immediate or gradual death of a 

 good tree here and there thins the stand very considerably in 

 a few years and it is such a thinning process in the past which 

 makes many pine tracts bear but 5,000 feet to the acre where 

 otherwise they would yield two or three times as much. 

 Scorching also retards the growth of trees not actually in- 

 jured otherwise. 



The technical objections given above may sometimes be 

 offset by practical advantages and the system is likely to re- 

 ceive expert approval for certain conditions provided it is not 

 used as a cloak without taking sincere steps to replace the 

 destroyed second growth by .adequate seed trees or artificial 

 seeding. The latter danger may easily warrant public alarm 

 manifested by restrictive laws. Universal ground burning of 

 green timber will distinctly reduce the prospect of unassisted 

 natural reforestation on the great area of potential timber 

 land in which, as a resource, regardless of ownership, the 

 public is vitally interested. Under present conditions at 

 least, a large proportion of this is likely to be logged without 

 any view to a future crop. It is questionable whether any 

 state should, or will, legally approve ground burning except 

 under stipulation of proper management thereafter. 



Unfortunately, it is necessary, in concluding this discus- 

 sion of yellow pine, to admit that while an attempt has been 

 made to outline the methods which will insure a second crop, 

 the promise of satisfactory financial return is more doubtful 

 than that offered by some other species. Compared with the 

 typical coast trees, such as Douglas fir, spruce and -hemlock, 

 the growth is slow and the yield small. The chief circum- 

 stances in its favor are low land values, lesser fire risk, cheap- 

 ness and certainty of reproduction and excellent market pros- 

 pects. Less investment compensates somewhat for longer 

 rotation and smaller yield. Low taxation, however, is an ab- 

 solute essential. 



