Role of Fire in Pine Forest of California

The part forest fires have played in the history of the forest stands in the Sierra region of California has been vividly brought out in a new publication, entitled "The Role of Fire in the Pine Forests of California." It embodies the results of observations and study over a considerable period of years. The fire history of the pine forests has been traced through the record kept by the tree in the form of fire scars and through the interpretation of this record it has been possible to work out what has happened in the past two and a half centuries.

The action of fire in the virgin forest, according to this recent publication, has resulted in a decrease in the yields secured from the old-growth forest. Second-growth stands free from the cumulative effect of repeated fires show yields much higher than virgin forest 200 years older.

The light ground fire is responsible for some of this loss. A tree into whose base these "harmless" fires have gradually eaten becomes weakened, invites the entrance of decay, and becomes a ready prey to wind-throw. The process of attrition thus started is continued throughout the life of the stand, making the forest more and more open and permitting the entrance of brush and weed growth of little economic value.

Fires in second-growth stands normally result in the total destruction of the forest. Although this is seldom the case in the old-growth stands, each of these light ground fires in addition to causing fire scars at the base of ihe trees, they destroy the young growth present on the ground in old stands and so rob the forest of a vitally important nucleus of a new forest crop when the old one is removed. The final effect of repeated fires is to reduce the forest to a nonproductive brush field of little economic value, which is a greater fire menace than the forest itself.

Systematic fire protection, the publication states, is shown to have a positive rather than a negative benefit, for its objects are both preventing an economic loss through the destruction of the forest, and the gradual building up of the forest stand with a general increase in its productivity.

Its cost is not merely insurance, nor should it be classed as part of the overhead in the carrying charges of a forest property, for fire protection is rightly a part of the capital investment. Fire is not merely an enemy of the still unharvested timber crop. It is a ruthless foe to the very existence of the forest, for fire is an agency whose destructive work is always cumulative.

Copies of this publication, known as Department Bulletin lD4, may be obtained free of charge, while the supply lasts, by writing to the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

NEW WEYERHAEUSER PLANT

Spokane, Wash., Feb. 8.-The construction of a $2,@0,000 lumber plant at Lewiston, Idaho, by the 'Weyerhaeuser Lumber Company of Minneapolis, together with the Humbird interests of Spokane, will be started within a short time, according to an announcement made by officials of tne company.

Do you remember what Bill, the "Go-Getter," wired C"ppy Ricks in response to his orders? It structions:

..IT SHALL BE DONE!'' was his usual acknowledgment of. in-

'lVe do not perhaps qualify with Bill in every instance, but were to ash us if we could furnish you lumber that would give you more than the usual amount of good cuttings, we could truthfully

..IT HAS BEEN DONE!''

Because that is the kind of lumber we cut.

Redwood Tree Makes Train Load of Logs

A sixteen car-train load of Redwood logs recently arrived at the Dolbeer-Carson Lumber Co. plant at Eureka which were the contents of one Redwood tree cut at their logging camp at Field Brook, Humboldt County. The tree contained eleven l6-foot logs, many of which had to be quartered to load on the cars, and scaled 107,633 feet. A second tree cut at their camp contained four 16-foot, two l8-foot, and two T-foot logs, which scaled 98,670 feet. The Spalding Rule was used in scaling the log contents of the tree. Henry Hink, Sales Manager of the Dolbeer-Carson Lumber Co., says the remarkable thing about these two large trees was that they were both practically free from rift cracks and heart rot.

Homer Maris Returns From Valley Trip

Homer Maris, well known San Francisco distributor of Panels, has returned from a several days' business trip to Fresno and other San Joaquin Valley points, .lvhere he has been conferring with his customers and looking over building conditions. in the Valley District.

A. A. DIMMICK RETURNS FROM NORTHWEST BUSINESS TRIP

A. A. (Bert) Dimmick, Dimmick Lumber Co., has returned to San Francisco, after spending four weeks in the Northwest visiting his mitl connections and calling on the lumber trade. He visited the Portland, Seattle, Coos Bay, and Puget Sound Districts. He reports that the mills are feeling optimistic for a good year and as soon as the weather conditions become favorable in the Middle West and Atlantic Coast sections, they expect a1 large _g_as_tern demand for lumber.

Dimmick Luqber{ompany Moves To @fe Buildihg

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On February 1, the Dimmick Lumber Co., of San Francisco, moved into their new offices at 1004 Fife Building. Their new offices have an ideal location overlooking San Francisco Bay and the East Bay District. Their telephone number remains the same, DOUGLAS 8925.

Where They Go

Statistical report on the use of 100,000 paper clips:

Pipe cleaners

Emergency Garter Clasps

Home-made Key-rings

Substitute Suspender Buttons

Picking Locks

Cleaning Typewriter Type

Lingerie Clasps

Toothpicks

Lapel Ornaments (Juvenile)

Nutpicks

Blackhead Removers

Necktie Clasps

Hairpins

Fingernail Cleaners clea'ning ouiFoo"i"i; n;; F;;;. : : :

Wiring Down Corks on Home Brew

Button Hooks

Bob Hair Restrainers

Non-skid Devices for [-adies' Belts

Repairs on Typewriters, Fans and Pencil Sharpeners

Mosquito-Bite Scratchers

Ear Reamers

Sash and Doors

In Our Garage

By Richard M. Bennett

A boiler and a kettle lid.

Some plates that Maggie broke and hid; A chopping-block, a knuckle bone, A phonograph that doesn't phone; Some lingerie that lingered long, A mattress with the mat all gone; A bustle out of grandma's trunk, A rat-trap and some other junk; A demijohn of faint bouquet, (Sweet hundred-proof of yesterday) ; The sticks and tail of Tohnnie's kite.

For 12 Years-

A table lamp I dropped one night; Tomato cans of Auld Lang Syne, A hundred feet of washing line; One pair of pants (demobilized), One garden hose (derubberized); Gas fittings from a former age, One rocker, one canary cage; A niblick and a baseball bat, A bedstead and a broken slat; The box in which the rabbit died, The bike that mother used to ride; Of many things a sundry crop- All but the car-that's in the shop.

The Retail Trade Have Phoned SUTTER 398

The Pasa Word To Proven Integrity