Effect of Partial Suppression of Forest Fires. 23 



Vvcre previously known to him. In these trips it was 

 distinctly observed that where forest fires had been sup- 

 pressed, whether the area had been cut over or not, 

 young trees of species not previously found as young- 

 trees were beginning to find foothold. This is notably 

 brought out in the Tuolumne grove of sequoias. Here 

 in early visits not a single specimen except full-grown, 

 dead, or dying trees could be found. On September ist 

 of the current year a young sequoia was found fifty feet 

 to the north of the branch road which runs through the 

 trunk of the dead giant and about one hundred and 

 fifty feet from the forks of the road nearest Sequoia 

 (Crocker's Station). This tree is the largest of the 

 young trees in this grove, and has the following meas- 

 urements : Height, 23.8 feet ; circumference one foot 

 above the ground, 28% inches; circumference five feet 

 above the ground, 20^ inches; spread of branches, 12.9 

 feet. Some one, ignorant of its species and import, had 

 whacked off the lower branches and tied his horse to it. 

 We carefully marked it with a ring of stones, cut out or 

 topped all inferior trees around it, and it is hoped that 

 putting its exact measurements at the date named will 

 induce others to note from time to time its rate of growth. 

 These measurements were made of record both at Se- 

 quoia and with the commanding officer at Wawona. 

 When young it takes a conical form from the ground, 

 tapering to a fine point. Subsequently Mr. John 

 Crocker, with Mr. C. N. Adams, of Palo Alto, and Mrs. 

 Clark, of Oakland, found about ten smaller trees in the 

 same grove. 



Observations here and in other parts of the Sierra 

 showed vast thickets of young trees well sprinkled over 

 vAth young sugar-pines. The sequoia and the sugar- 

 pine when young are exceedingly tender and are killed 

 by the slightest fire ; other species are more resistant, and 

 hence more abundant. The suppression of forest fires 

 will restore these two splendid species to the Sierra, and 

 with either clean cutting or by leaving young and seedling 



