46 



BULLETIN 1061, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the edge of a swamp on cold, wet ground, or in very dry places where 

 scarcely anything else can grow, gives evidence of the ceaseless 

 pursuit of fires. The effect of protection upon the rate of growth, 

 discussed under "Growth Under Fire Protection" (PI. XVII), is 

 very marked in contrast with the slow growth and accompanying 

 stunted development more commonly seen. 



The fire problem is great, but undoubtedly is can be solved by the 

 organized cooperation of the private owner, the State, and the Fed- 

 eral Government, acting jointly in placing the responsibility and 

 sharing the cost (fig. 5). The settling of the lands and the develop- 

 ment of higher types of community organization will exert a helpful 



FIVE YEARS OF FOREST FIRES 



MORE THAN ft OF THE STATES 20 MILLION ACRES OF FOREST LANDS OF ALL 

 CLASSES WERE BURNED OVER, WITH A LOSS OF OVER 4ft MILLION DOLLARS. 

 THE STATE DID NOTHING TO PREVENT THIS LOSS. 



$16,000 LOSS, 



LESS THAN \% OF THE 7ft MILLION ACRES OF FOREST LAND OF ALL CLASSES 

 WERE BURNED OVER. THE STATE INVESTED Vz MILLION DOLLARS IN FOREST FIRE 

 PROTECTION. 



FOREST FIRE PROTECTION PAYS 



Fig. 5. — Forest fire losses in Georgia and in New York. 



economic influence, while the increasing scarcity of old growth and 

 the advancing prices of lumber and turpentine will tend to interest 

 owners to bring their cut-over lands into productiveness. Small 

 owners are already in a position to afford a good measure of pro- 

 tection to the old fields, which constitute the source of their local 

 supplies of timber, and to the cut-over lands, which afford grazing 

 and help in keeping live stock over the winter. 



RAZORBACK HOGS. 



The native, or " razorback," hog is one of the greatest enemies of 

 young longleaf pine. As an agent of destruction he probably holds 

 next place to that of fire. In localities near settlements, where fires 

 are infrequent, the hog easily becomes the chief factor in preventing 

 the reforestation of longleaf. (PI. XVIII.) 



