TREES AND FORESTRY 



43 



into small tracts, will prevent the spread of a fire to disastrous proportions; 

 everywhere and at all times care must be taken to prevent the starting of 

 forest fires from camp fires and burning brush. 



The aim of all such work is the improvement of the woodland, although 

 there may result a considerable product for home use and sale. Such im- 

 provement, made even at odd times by a fanner without help, has been 

 known to increase the value of the wood lot forty per cent. When the aim 

 of a given cutting is a large product for market, still the forest should be left 

 in an improved, undepleted condition, the cutting accompanied by re- 

 foresting. For this cutting and attendant reforesting, few general laws can 

 be made. The method most practicable is the so called "Selection Method" 

 by which selected trees here and there are cut, the owner always keeping in 

 mind the kind of forest he wishes to have after the crop is removed. lie 

 must consider the trees remaining as to age, condition, tolerance for shade 

 and market value of species. Sprouts or seedlings from near seed trees will 

 soon fill up the opened spaces; or better still, young trees raised in seed bed 

 and nursery may be planted and so the species fully controlled. By this 

 method a very irregular mixed forest results, with trees of many sizes and 

 kinds, capable of yielding varied products (see p. 52). Trees tolerant of 

 shade (beech, maple, spruce and hemlock) can be made to fill in below 



FIG. 37. DISASTROUS RES ULTS OFFIRE 



Although occurring twenty years ago, the fire has been followed by no young 

 growth. Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming 



