1 66 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



mentioned. In this account only an outline of the manufacture 

 is given. 



The greatest scourge in the forests of maritime pine and the 

 strongest argument against the investment of capital in such 

 a type of undertaking is fire. These fires are almost 

 invariably caused either through carelessness, or from fires lit 

 for the purpose of clearing the land for the sake of the pasture 

 that may be obtained on the cleared ground. If the fire is 

 discovered at an early stage it is easily extinguished, but 

 frequently it happens that, owing to the scattered nature of the 

 population, it has got such a hold that practically the only 

 method of fighting that can be adopted is that of counter-firing. 

 The defence is itself one that is exceedingly dangerous, and 

 it should only be employed when it can be effectively controlled. 

 As a rule March is found to be the most dangerous month, as 

 at that time the surface growth is dry and the young shoots 

 have not yet been formed ; they offer, therefore, an ideal surface 

 for the rapid spread of fire. Extensive fires are common every 

 year, but that of the year 1735 stands out prominently. It is 

 supposed to have been started by a beggar on account of the 

 treatment given him by a native of St Michel. The area 

 destroyed was 50,000 hectares (125,000 acres). Old men and 

 children, unable to escape from the rapidly advancing fire, 

 perished ; houses were destroyed over the whole surface, and 

 sheep were suffocated in dense flocks. The process of forest 

 destruction continues in this manner each year. Methods of deal- 

 ing with fire have been advocated, such as clearing of broad fire 

 lines. The proposal is not a recent one, and it has been seen that 

 in communal property provision was made for the removal of 

 surface vegetation with a view to forming a kind of fire line. 

 In the north it is not possible to utilise the surface vegetation 

 for litter, and in addition the area in question renders the 

 removal impossible. The formation of fire lines involves a loss 

 of productive ground to the owner of the land through which 

 the line passes. In a district where small proprietors are 

 common, considerable hardship might result. The proposal to 

 avoid such loss by growing broad-leaved species on the fire 

 line is impracticable. The species which would succeed are few, 

 and the success as a fire line is doubtful. Where it has been 

 found that active steps for prevention of spreading are possible, 

 proprietors have united in protective associations and contribute 



