420 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



The danger would also appear to be great where the metals lie 

 on a high embankment, the locomotive funnel thus being exposed to 

 the wind. The sparks certainly fly somewhat further than on open 

 level ground, but they take a longer time to fall to the ground. At 

 the same time, owing to the grade of the embankment, the safety 

 strip is of necessity at a considerable distance from the metals, so 

 that the trees of this belt can catch the sparks as well as if they stood 

 close up to the line. 



If a new railway line is to be laid through an existing planta- 

 tion, the same type of protection belt may be adopted. It is only 

 necessary to clear as broad a way as is required for the construction 

 of the railway. On both sides of the line the protection belts may be- 

 formed as above described. 



The crop remains, but the ground is cleared of all inflammable 

 material, and if the trees are too widely scattered or devoid of 

 branches for a considerable height, underplanting with some species 

 of trees which will stand a fair amount of shade may be resorted to 

 On the sides of the belt nearest the railway. If the trees of the shelter 

 belt must be removed on account of age, the belt should immediately 

 be restocked, and a strip of the main portion of the v»"ood converted 

 into a safety belt. 



In the kind of 



Tree Suitable for Planting, 



the following qualities should be present: — 



(1) The tree must be suited to the soil so that it may flourisb 

 as well as possible. 



(2) It should form a thick or resistant bark as soon as possible,. 



so that it may not be killed by a moderate ground iire. 



(3) Its crown must be thick enough to catch flying sparks and 



to shade the ground, so that a strong growth of grass and 

 bush is impossible. 



On first consideration, broad-leaved trees are more suitable than 

 pines, but when broad-leaved trees, such as oak, etc., flourish, the 

 ground is as a rule damper and danger from fire less than where 

 pines may thrive. 



On dry sandy soils, the common cluster pine is probably the most 

 ejfficient kind for the construction of safety belts, and when planted 

 as transplants, 4 feet by 4 feet, in preference to sowing, they soon- 

 develop a bark sufficiently resistant to small ground fires. At this- 

 espacement, a single horse-hoe can be used during the early life of 

 the belt to keep the ground well cultivated, but if impossible the 

 rows should be cultivated by hand. The hoeing should be done until 

 the trees have reached a sufficient height to form a canopy, and thus 

 prevent the growth of the ground vegetation. When the trees are 

 about 4 feet high, the lower dry and suppressed branches should be 

 pruned off, except on the outermost borders, where all live branches 

 may be retained. 



Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) and Black Wattle (A. 

 decurren^) also form effective screens under suitable conditions. The 

 accompanying illustration shows such a belt of Black Wattle, used 

 on a hillside on the sugar estates at Mount Edgecombe, Natal. 



