136 FOREST PLANTING. 



entire labor is frustrated, and the work has to be done 

 over again, at a greater distance from the fire, thus sac- 

 rificing a still larger part of the forest than would have 

 been destroyed if the distance was at the first properly 

 taken. As soon as the fire reaches the row of felled 

 trees a sufficient number of men with shovels, spades and 

 wet brooms should be in readiness to work, and to use 

 every means to extinguish the sparks and flames which 

 fall upon the overturned trees. 



Although the methods employed by the management 

 of European forests in preventing the spreading of for- 

 est-fires are at present not yet fully available in our 

 State, it may not be amiss to briefly describe the mode of 

 European warfare against fires. This mode is in general 

 as follows : 



" Whenever a forest-fire is discovered the church-bells 

 in all neighboring villages begin to ring and all able- 

 bodied persons men, women and children turn out 

 with axes, spades, shovels, rakes, brooms, etc., under the 

 guidance of acknowledged leaders. They combine their 

 movements, according to the direction of the wind and 

 other circumstances, and dispose their forces with intell- 

 igence and promptitude. A mode often resorted to is 

 the contre feu, fighting the fire with fire just as in the 

 Prairies is often done. Knowing the forest well, they 

 direct their forces to one of the safety-strips, (i. e. open 

 paths in the woods upon which no shrubs or trees are 

 allowed to grow) or to the most favorable spot on the 

 path of the fire. At a sufficient distance ahead of it, 

 an extended line of workers wider than the fire is formed 

 and set to work to remove as much of the inflammable 

 material as possible. They cut down and burn and 

 trample and shovel earth and carry away stuff, etc., and 

 when the fire in its course reaches that spot, it finds 

 little food, hesitates, and at lust is generally conquered." 



Our forests are not always surrounded by villages, the 



