ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES 55 



plete the reproduction. The purpose of the fire seed trees is 

 then not primarily to establish the second crop. These trees 

 are left as a measure of fire insurance. In case the reproduc- 

 tion is destroyed by fire the seed trees, due to their size and 

 hardiness, are expected to escape and to provide the seed 

 for restocking the bum. In some cases occasional large thick- 

 barked Douglas fir which would escape fire have been left 

 together with thrifty younger seed trees which would be 

 killed by a severe fire. Species which are exceptionally fire 

 resistant make ideal fire seed trees. Western larch is one of 

 the best examples. This species has been left as fire seed 

 trees in certain instances in the western white pine type in 

 northern Idaho. 



Fire resistant species cannot always be found to serve as 

 fire seed trees. When less resistant species are used there is 

 a question whether the fire which destroys the reproduction 

 will not also kill the seed trees. It is also an open question 

 as to whether the fire seed trees can successfully restock a 

 bare burned area. If site conditions are unfavorable to nat- 

 ural reproduction it is unreasonable to expect restocking by 

 scattered seed trees. If site conditions are favorable for 

 natural reproduction it follows that artificial methods are 

 possible. This being the case it is questionable whether the 

 financial investment in leaving fire seed trees (unless of an 

 exceptionally fire resistant species) is always justified. It 

 may be cheaper to cut clear and to replace by artificial meth- 

 ods the occasional bodies of reproduction consumed by fire. 

 Nevertheless when the fire danger is great and artificial re- 

 generation on a large scale following fires might be needed 

 over extensive areas the leaving of fire seed trees is fully 

 justified. 



Advantages and Disadvantages of the Seed Tree Method.— 

 Advantages. — i. Logging is concentrated on relatively small 



