THE CALIFORNIA INDIANS HAD A METHOD OF SMALL UNDERSTORY BURNING IN ORDER TO CONTROL DUFF AND SMALL LIMBS AND CONTROL INSECTS AND PATHOGENS TO OTHER TREES. BY CONTROLLED SMALL FIRES THEY DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE LARGE WILDFIRES THAT HAVE SPREAD THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA IN RECENT TIMES.
SOME ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE STUDIED HOW THE PREHISTORIC BASKETS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH STRAIGHT WILLOW WITHS AND SEDGES WHICH FORMED ONLY BY UNDERSTORY BURNING, THROUGH BURNING THEY ALSO ALLOWED THE DEER TO COME INTO THEIR NEARBY VILLAGES SO THEY COULD WALK ON THE DEER TRAILS AND BE SEEN BY HUNTERS. THE FIRES ALSO INCREASED NATIVE SEEDS AND WILDFLOWERS THAT THEY USED FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE. BURNING ALSO OPENED UP SOME TREE SEED CONES SO THEY COULD REPRODUCE . APPARENTLY SUGAR PINE GROWS NICELY WITH UNDERSTORY BURNS. INDIANS COLLECTED NUTS FOR FOOD AND JEWELRY.
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