42 SHORTLEAF PINE IN VIRGINIA. 



crowded stands and the thickened bark greatly reduce the danger 

 of fire, but even the heavy bark of old trees does not afford com- 

 plete protection from hot spring fires when these are driven by a 

 strong wind. Thickly stocked shortleaf pine stands do not, as a 

 rule, become grassy or foul with shrubs and herbage, and conse- 

 quently do not require periodic winter burning for the purpose of 

 protection, such as may often be necessary for pole stands and 

 mature stands of loblolly and longleaf pines. Although no visible 

 damage may be done to older trees by such burnings, the rate of 

 growth is reduced by the destruction of the pine straw and the 

 humus, while even the slight scorching of trees may lead to the 

 entrance of insects or fungi. 



Young stands and areas which are in process of stocking are 

 most effectively protected from fire by establishing and maintain- 

 ing open fire lanes, free from straw and litter, completely around 

 them or on the exposed sides. A shallow furrow can be plowed 

 every year on both sides of the laiies, and the intervening strip 

 can be raked clear, or it can be burned during damp, quiet weather. 

 In older stands the straw and litter can be raked off the lanes each 

 autumn and used for stable beddings. Well established lanes, if 

 they are free from stumps and shrubs, may conveniently be raked 

 with a side delivery rake. By locating lanes at intervals through 

 a large tract, as well as around it, it is separated into blocks which 

 are individually protected. Where possible, roads and paths 

 should be used for lanes. Since there is great danger of a serious 

 fire during and immediately after lumbering, extra protective pre- 

 caution should be taken at that -time. A fire that occurs at that 

 time will frequently destroy the pine seedlings, but the replace- 

 ment of the hardwoods and shrubs takes place at once by sprout- 

 ing. Repeated fires eliminate the pines. When timber is sold or 

 when logging is done by contract, an enforceable fire penalty clause 

 should be inserted in the contract, in order to obtain the necessary 

 protection. 



The Federal Government under the terms of section 2 of 

 the Weeks Law extends its co-operation to States in assisting them 

 to protect the forested water-sheds of navigable streams from 

 fire. In order to secure assistance of this kind a State must have 

 provided by law for a system of forest fire protection and must 

 have appropriated funds for the purpose. Scarcely a more im- 

 portant step could be taken by the State of Virginia towards the 

 conservation of its forests than the establishment of a fire pro- 



