4t8 



FORESTRY IN NEW ENGLAND 



quently fire results in an entire change of seed-bed conditions. 

 Usually these changes result in the seeding in of a less desirable 

 tree. The damage caused by such a change in the composition 

 of the stand must be charged against the fire. 



TABLE L 



FOREST FIRE LOSSES FOR AN AVERAGE YEAR IN 

 NEW ENGLAND. 



Region. 



Area annu- 

 ally burned 

 over, acres. 



Damage ' as 

 ordinarily 

 reported. 



Damage - 

 not ordi- 

 narily 

 reported. 



Cost of 

 protection 

 and fight- 

 ing fires. 



Total ' ex- 

 penditure 

 or loss due 

 to forest 

 fires. 



Spruce ^ 



Northern hardwoods ''. 



White pine' 



Sprout hardwoods*.. . . 



All New England 



40,000 



3,600 



66,500 



48,500 



$150,000 



8,000 



315,000 



181,000 



$75,000 



7,000 



100,000 



50,000 



$60,000 " 



3>500 



32,500 



9,000 



$285,000 



18,500 



447-500 



240,000 



: 58, 600 



$654,000 



$232,000 



[05,000 



$991,000 



' Based on reports of the local forest fire wardens and patrolmen. 



2 Includes injury to reproduction, to young growth, to soil and seed-bed conditions. 



3 Secured by adding together the amounts in the three preceding columns. 



* Based chiefly on the seventh and eighth annual reports of the Forest Commissioner of Maine, 

 giving data for the years 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910. While the reports of the Vermont and New 

 Hampshire state foresters have been consulted the data in these last two states does not cover so 

 many years. 



s The basis for this estimate is the average annual expenditure for 1909 and 1910, by the State 

 of Maine within the territory of the spruce region. 



8 For an average year, based on available figures for the years 1907-8, 1909-10. 



' Based on averages for from two to four fire seasons. 



8 This estimate is based on the report of the State Forester of Connecticut for 1910, printed in 

 the Biennial Report of the Conn. Agri. Exp. Station, for 1909-1910, and on the Fifth Annual Report 

 of the Rhode Island Commissioner of Forestry. 



TABLE 



II. COMPARISON BETWEEN REGIONS IN THE AMOUNT 

 SPENT FOR FIRE PROTECTION. 



1 These values are the ones used in getting the figures in the preceding column and are believed 

 to be extremely conservative especially for central and southern New England. 



2 Based on the value of the wild lands of Maine, as assessed for the year 1906. 

 ' Season 1909. 



* Average for 1909 and 1910. This is really the cost of administrating the National Forests 

 and includes cost of protection. 



