26 FOBEST CONDITIONS IN LOUISIANA. 



out game, or sometimes merely for the sake of seeing a conflagration. 

 The farmers seldom set fires, except as a protective measure, when 

 their property is in danger. On the other hand, little heed is given 

 to fire that does not threaten buildings and fences. Many of the large 

 holdings of nonresidents are burned over once or twice each year 

 by owners of sheep and cattle, under the false impression that fire 

 will improve the pasturage. This is the case in all the pine parishes, 

 especially in Yernon and Calcasieu, where sheep grazing is most 

 extensive. 



The yellow-pine forests of the South should receive the same pro- 

 tection from fire as is advocated for northern coniferous forests. It 

 would be impracticable, however, to put into effect a comprehensive 

 scheme of fire protection until the attitude of the people in regard 

 to forest fires has substantially changed. It must be realized that 

 the destruction of timber, whether mature or immature, means loss 

 not only to the individual owner but to the whole State. Large 

 private owners could employ a sufficient protective force to insure 

 their holdings against destruction, but the general adoption of such 

 a plan by the State would, with the present public sentiment, fail of 

 support. 



The necessity for protecting the 3,500,000 acres of cut-over pine 

 lands, however, is immediate. The most hazardous period in the life 

 of a young pine stand is that between the first appearance of the 

 young seedlings on the cut-over area and the time when the young 

 trees attain a size that will enable them to withstand surface fires. 

 Ordinarily, this means that cut-over areas should be given protection 

 for from 10 to 15 years after logging. 



The ideal plan on cut-over pine lands would be to conduct logging 

 operations just previous to a heavy fall of seed and to pile and 

 burn the slash at the time the area is logged. If slash is not prop- 

 erly disposed of, the first fire that burns, no matter how long delayed, 

 will kill the young growth. If a sufficient number of seed trees are 

 left on the logged area reproduction will take place immediately. 



In some of the Northwestern States associations of timberland 

 owners have been organized to insure the protection of their holdings 

 from fire. The membership includes all classes of owners, from the 

 largest corporation to the man with only 40 acres. Each member 

 contributes to the cost of protection on a pro rata basis. The com- 

 bined holdings of the members are divided into districts which are 

 thoroughly patrolled during the danger season. Fire-fighting tools 

 are stored at convenient points. The cost of protection to the mem- 

 bers of the association in an average year is from 1 to 3 cents per 

 acre. In every case these associations cooperated with the State and 

 Federal Governments. 



