ii8 North American Forests and Forestry 



while these smaller plants are vigorously spreading, 

 the seedlings of trees are struggling upward be- 

 neath the tangled mass, sometimes protected by 

 their shade, at other times hindered by their rank 

 growth. After a while they are sure to win, and 

 as they raise their tops over the weeds, they in 

 turn begin to shade the ground, and the first 

 comers gradually die off because they no longer 

 get sufficient sunlight. Now, if the fires keep off, 

 there is no reason why in the course of time a new 

 forest should not grow up, with trees as tall and 

 vigorous as in the old one. But, unfortunately, in 

 most parts of the country the fire does not keep off. 

 During all the younger stages of the new growth 

 the soil remains covered with much inflammable 

 material, and oft-repeated scorchings prevent the 

 trees from ever becoming tall and healthy. In this 

 way, what was originally fine forest, producing 

 valuable merchantable timber, is in many cases 

 succeeded by a wilderness of shrubs and stunted 

 trees, hardly good enough to furnish fire-wood. 



Recapitulating what has been stated regarding 

 the influence of fire upon the extent and value of 

 American forests, it may be said : Fire reduces the 

 extent of forest area by destroying growing timber ; 

 it prevents reproduction of forest by deteriorating 

 the soil, killing seeds and consuming seedlings ; 

 and it deteriorates the value of existing woodlands 

 by hindering the vigorous and healthy development 

 of trees. Which of these three forms of injury is 

 most prominent depends on the section of country, 



