418 



Journal of the Department op Agriculture. 



distances of 80-100 yards from the railway line, and if a strip 100 

 yards wide on each side of the line is to be kept bare for each mile 

 of railway 72 acres of land must either lie idle or be used for some 

 succulent crop, which is not likely to catch tire. In many instances 

 it would be more profitable ,ta grow timber on these strips, as the 

 land may be too poor for agricultural purposes. 



To protect plantations from sparks from railway engines, the 

 safety belts of trees should be about 15 yards broad and separated 

 from the main plantation by a path 5-6 feet wide and from the rail- 

 way embankment hy a strip about 4 feet wide. These two paths 

 should be united every 20 yards ov so by cross-paths, which should 

 always be kept clean. 



The following diagram indicates the method of laying out such 

 belts, as practised in the pine forests of northern Germany: — 



^^^^^ 



A .% ^;| 

 4 





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A ^ A 



n 1 



ii Mil ill 











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ISHI 





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y 



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TIT4 

 4* 4 1, 

 1 4. A 4 



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Fi<;. 4. — («) High forest, (h') imd (d) Clean strips. (O YouDg protection belt. (»?) .Em- 

 bankment with clean strip in centre. (/) Railway track, {g) Older protection 

 belt for protecting young plantation (/O. 



