SEEDING TIMBER BURNS AND BURNT SLASHINGS. 39 



SEEDING TIMBER BURNS AND BURNT SLASHINGS. 



As previously stated, dense forests of evergreen timber cover a 

 very large portion of western Oregon and western Washington. Dur- 

 ing the dry season of the year forest fires overrun large areas, killing 

 practically all vegetation, and leaving a loose blanket of ashes on the 

 surface of the ground. These burnt areas if left unmolested for a 

 few years usually produce a dense growth of young trees and brush 

 and are practically worthless for grazing purposes. In clearing land 

 it also frequently happens that the timber and brush are slashed and 

 burnt several years before the stumps are removed. By properly 

 seeding these burnt areas they may be made to produce excellent pas- 

 ture. Since the stumps are in the ground and there is therefore no 

 chance to cover the seed, the seeding should always be done in the fall 

 before the ashes have settled. The first rain that comes will then 

 coA^er the seed sufficiently to insure good germination. 



Since there is little chance to improve or renew the stand on account 

 of the stumps and timber remaining on the land, only seed of those 

 plants should be soavii that last a long time, stand close cropping, and 

 yet produce as much growth as possible. If the seed is sown in the 

 unsettled ashes as indicated, little difficulty will be experienced in 

 getting good stands of white clover, alsike clover, red clover, orchard 

 grass, meadow fescue, timothy, and English rye-grass. A mixture 

 of 1 pound of white clover, 3 pounds of alsike clover, 10 of orchard 

 grass, and 10 pounds of meadow fescue per acre should give satis- 

 factor}^ results when sown in the unsettled ashes in the earty fall. 

 Timothy will also do well for this purpose. Red clover and English 

 rye-grass are each short-lived and should form but a small portion of 

 the mixture, if sown at all. Timber burns that have been seeded 

 down in this way should be pastured pretty closely to keep down the 

 young trees and brush. Goats will help to do this better than any 

 other kind of animal. The success of seeding burnt areas in this way 

 has been thoroughly demonstrated in many parts of the region. It 

 is only a question of sowing the proper seed at the proper time. 



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