ROLE OF FIRE IN CALIFORNIA PINE FORESTS 57 
None of the forms of loss which appear to be inseparable from the 
practice of light burning are in themselves catastrophes and all are 
relatively inconspicuous. The cumulative effects of repeated fires 
inevitably tend, however, toward the gradual reduction of the stand. 
The cost of burning on a relatively small area such as this can not 
be considered as representing what the cost of treating large areas 
might be, but does indicate that costs can not be ignored. 
Costs for 1919 burn: Man days 
42 Tc Ses TOPE Hye Oa FSS Hd VCC] 3) ale eid ay lal Ao i A a od ech 9 Sh 3 
Sevtine and, combrol of resell 7 Bik BUBB ied oii 5 
gs a ese Ne eh eae ee le 74 
Costs for 1920 burn: 
Fire-line construction _________-_-- Uy Sakis See pe Sd Peek ee oa3 13 
Setting ancdiconbrokie® firesqrivis ses atalino: Wiese pean Ded TE 7 
BOA cae cei ee Ree Ee Se te 2 8t 
Length of fire line, 2} miles. 
Area burned, 105 and 126 acres, respectively. 
At average wages this would amount to at least 28 cents an acre 
for each burning. At average stumpage rates $3 a thousand board 
feet the indirect cost or damage to merchantable timber would average 
about $2.75 per acre for each burning. 
The effect of the burning so far has been but a very slight reduction 
in hazard, which has been accomplished at a cost disproportionately 
great compared to the value of the results. 
USE IN INSECT CONTROL—SISKIYOU COUNTY 
In recent years, as the value of merchantable stumpage has increased 
and as every form of loss has been scrutinized more and more closely, 
owners of timberland have felt grave concern over the serious losses 
from tree-destroying insects. 
The methods of direct control developed by the Bureau of Entomol- 
ogy, United States Department of Agriculture (11, 26), require a con- 
siderable outlay of cash, can not be applied over a large area at one 
time without a highly specialized and trained organization, and are 
especially adapted to acute infestations. Therefore, in searching for 
a quick and inexpensive means to control forest insects it was natural 
that owners of pine timber should be willing to consider the practice 
of extensive light surface burning of the forest as a possible means of 
control. The view that light burning not only would control exist- 
ing insect epidemics but would prevent new ones from starting was 
first given publicity in 1916 by Stewart Edward White (27). Asa 
basis for the theory, the statement was made that serious insect 
depredations were unknown when surface fires ran frequently through 
the forests. Entomologists have, however, shown conclusively that 
losses from insects were prevalent in the past as they arenow. That 
these losses should have been overlooked or ignored i. timber owners 
is not surprising, for they knew little of forest entomology and the 
loss of a small part of the stand occasioned no trepidation even to 
owners of pine stumpage. 
In late years, therefore, the proponents of light burning have claimed 
not only that it is an excellent measure to reduce fire hazard but 
that it is the best, cheapest, and most certain method for controlling 
