12 Miscellaneous Circular 15, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



this true in the Southwest, where the climate makes it exceedingly 

 difficult to establish a natural growth of seedlings preparatory to 

 the removal of the mature crop. Artificial planting of seedlings 

 is almost prohibitive in cost, so that the ground fire that burns 

 natural reproduction destroys the forest just as surely as if it con- 

 sumed all the trees at once. 



Fire, the arch enemy of the forest. 



Ground fires scar the bases of large trees and through these 

 wounds enter fungous rots, which work invisibly in the tree and de- 

 stroy its value for lumber. Every forest fire, whether severe or light, 

 big or little, is a curse to the forest and the community, and an. 

 enemy to the public welfare. 



PREVENT FOREST FIRES 



