Ranger Babbitt has dovlsed a method which he 

 describes In a recent issue of tho Tahoe, of getting rid 

 of old snags Tliich certainly is en advance in fire protec- 

 tion and forest hygiene. It is probably not generally 

 known Just how closely fire protection and forest hygiene are 

 interrelated. Of couree it has been an accepted fact thet 

 timber rots followed fire, the spores of the wood destroying 

 fungi gainln- entrance to the hoartvood through the fire 

 scars, but there had been no definite figures to show to 

 vrhat an extent fire is responsible for such a condition. A 

 recent study mp.de on x*iito fir in Oregon in which a number 

 of trees infooted -.vith otrlngy brown rot (caused by Eohin- 

 odontium tinotorum) were o^araine^ , showed thr.t fire scars, 

 frost cracks and lirjhtninr soars, in the order named, were 

 nostly responsible for the introduction of the fungus. The 

 trees in xvhioh the rot could be directly traced to fire 

 soars numbered c.s many as those in which the rot, could be 

 traced tofroet cracks or lightning soars combined, while 

 those in jfr.ich the rot was traced to pin knots or unlcnown 

 causes were so few as to bo practically negligible. Every 

 fire that is checked before it has time to fl.o any damage 

 netttuj not only an actual saving in timber at the present, 

 but n big reduction in the amount of "cull" when the timber 

 is finally sold and a consequent economic sating both to the 

 Government end the purchaser. 



An opportunity afforded to every Hangor to prrotise 

 forest sanitation is in the handling of free use permits. In 

 marking trees for free use it is often possible to have trees 

 ber.ly infected with mistletoe, showing n conohs n on the trun.;, 

 or presenting general unhealthy tippeo.rp.noes, tclcen out by the 

 usor and in this way to afford the remaining trees a better 

 chance for healthy normal growth. 



3y adequate fire protection, by oradioating dis- 

 eased trees t:nd snags in our timber sales, by taking advan- 

 tage of the free use privelege as a means of ridding the 

 Forest of undesirable mecbers, .by destroying snags whenever 

 possible ami by unceasing watchfulness on the part of every 

 one for all inculcations of abnormal conditions in the Forest, 

 we rill, in the future, bring our Forests into the proper 

 sanitary condition essential for tho maximum production of 

 sound timber end we, aa business men, must not be satisfied 

 until this condition is reached. 



