Bush Fires and Stuhhle Burning. 427 



BUSH FIRES AND STUBBLE BURNING. 



By H. Pye. 



In writing these few notes on busli fires and stubble burning, it is 

 apparent that some matters of interest miglit be drawn attention to, 

 which would have a practical bearing in regard to rural economy. 

 Also it is likely that farmers, when they burn their stubbles, are not, 

 as a rule, aware of the comparative losses and gains to the land, due 

 to following this practice, which is every year becoming more 

 general. The bush fires of Victoria, and of the other States of the 

 Commonwealth, often cause great loss to farmers, both directly and 

 indirectly. The direct losses are principally the burning of the 

 pasture grasses, crops, fences, homes, and occasionally some of the 

 stock. The indirect losses do not appear to the farmer of much 

 consequence, yet on investigating them it will be apparent that they 

 may be serious, as for instance, owing to the destruction of 

 insectivorous birds. 



The loss of forest seedlings, and many old forest giants in timber 

 reserves, is often very great. These reserves are rapidly diminishing, 

 and even the firewood supplies of large cities are every year being 

 obtained from more distant parts. In order to safeguard the interests 

 of farmers and graziers, laws have been passed in order to check the 

 frequency of bush fires; but in spite of this, they are more general 

 than they should be. The supreme indifference of some persons to 

 fires is very exasperating to those who know what direful results may 

 follow when they occur, hence smoking should strongly be dis- 

 countenanced, and even made a misdemeanour, if it take place 

 anywhere where there is a possibility of a spark falling on the grass. 

 Perhaps if graziers and farmers whose properties lie in the route of 

 swagmen were to make suitable provision, and encourage the swagmen 

 and others to boil their billies in places prepared for such purposes, 

 there might be some hope of fewer fires. The use of wax matches 

 should also be discouraged, as there is no doubt that they are the 

 cause of more fires than is generally thought. 



Doubtless there is no economical method of clearing timbered 

 country that is far from a large city, except by burning. It is a pity 

 that such is the case, but it is inevitable. In countries where the 

 trees shed their leaves every year, the land receives much organic 

 matter; and this, together with the earth, forms a rich layer of soil 

 that will grow almost any farm crop. Old grass, too, supplies organic 

 matter to the soil, and renders it more absorbent for moisture, whilst 

 it also induces a better retention of it. The presence of this organic 

 matter prepares the soil for the increase of bacterial life so necessary 

 for inducing fertility in soils; thus grass fires, especially, are not only 

 the cause of much direct loss to the stockowners, but the burnt grass 

 represents a loss of much organic matter that has taken a considerable 

 time to be extracted from the air and soil. The mineral matter alone 



