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RESOURCES OF TENNESSEE. 



woodlands in condition for their best and most rapid production of timber, 

 they must have protection from fire. 



Fire damage to run-off. Besides the loss in tree production, another 

 phase of the serious damage resulting from forest fires is the rapid run- 

 off of the rainfall and the hastened evaporation resulting from the con- 

 stant burning of the leaf litter. A heavy downpour is followed by a rapid 

 rise in the streams, often sufficient to carry them out of banks, and to 

 sweep away fences, logs, crops, etc. This is looked upon as a natural 

 event and unavoidable ; water falls and it must have some way of escape. 

 But it need not have a free and unobstructed right of way overland to 

 wash and pillage. A part of the rainfall is taken up in wetting vegeta- 

 tion before it reaches the ground, a part evaporates, but as much of the 

 remainder as possible should find a way underground, and so far as our 

 forests are concerned this could be accomplished by a little precaution. 



FIG. 2. A sample of the mountains near South Pittsburg, where forest fires have 

 kept the ground cover burned off. Erosion and injury to trees are very noticeable 

 in such areas. 



The forests, by the annual shedding of their leaves, furnish a ground 

 covering that absorbs and holds a large amount of water until it can soak 

 into the earth. This litter is a natural ground protector and one that is 

 provided by the trees throwing off what they no longer need. It should 

 be kept and preserved ; in other words, it should not be allowed to catch 

 on fire. 



