


MANAGEMENT OF YELLOW PINE. 53 
The best preventive measures are a careful and efficient patrol and 
the education of the public to the destructiveness of forest fires. In 
the open western yellow pine forest fire lines are seldom necessary, but 
where reproduction is present it is advisable to burn the débris re- 
sulting from timber sales after it has been piled. Where, in order to 
secure natural reproduction, it is necessary to risk brush scattering, 
it would undoubtedly be advisable to burn fire lines bisecting the 
area, if possible, at least 300 feet in width. If the fire danger is 
particularly great, the line should be burned over every year. This 
would, of course, mean a large expense. Ordinarily, back firing is © 
possible without regular fire lines, providing dry débris resulting 
from logging has previously been cleared and burned. With brush 
scattered on the ground and a bigh wind it is almost impossible to 
stop a fire until the wind subsides. Dead snags are a particular 
menace in fire fighting, and the following clause is now being inserted 
in all timber-sale contracts: 
All dead standing trees considered a fire menace by the Forest officer in charge 
will be felled; but only such portions of them as are merchantable under the 
terms of this contract will be logged and paid for. This does not include black- 
jack nor stubs too small to be merchantable under the contract. 
In order to ascertain the cost of such a provision, the dead trees 
on a representative area of 640 acres were felled. The actual cost of 
the operation was 0.024 cent per thousand board feet of dead trees. 
Watch towers, lookout points, telephones, trails located along 
ridges, and roads cleared of pine needles are of great assistance in 
locating and combating fires. Engines operating on National Forest 
land should burn oil, but if coal or wood burning engines are per- 
mitted, an efficient spark arrester should be insisted upon. Since 
the average spark arrester is far from efficient, railroads passing 
through National Forests should, in addition, be compelled to clear 
their right of way annually of all inflammable material, and, if 
necessary, maintain a patrol to follow each train. Fire tools should 
be available at convenient points. After a fire is under control a 
sufficient guard should be maintained to put out additional fires set 
by smoldering logs, or that break out in any other way. 
DISPOSAL OF BRUSH. 
As a general rule brush from western yellow pine should be scat- 
tered, except where there is danger of fire, or where the timber is 
dense or reproduction present. The brush should be scattered thickly 
enough to afford actual protection. A cover of brush apparently 
dense when green will, when it dries out and the needles drop off, 
give little protection against the sun and wind. Occasionally in open- 
ings where it is necessary to keep cattle or other stock away from 



