120 ' ELEMENTARY FORESTRY. 



times when the ground is wet and fire is not likely to get beyond 

 control. On the other hand, it is well known that there are 

 many seedlings on such land that would be seriously injured or 

 destroyed by such treatment. It is also known that under the 

 trash left after logging are generally found about the best condi- 

 tions for pine seeds to start and for the seedlings to grow, so 

 that some of our best authorities condemn the practice. It 

 would seem, however, that on account of the great liability of 

 fires starting in such trash, prudence would generally advocate 

 the burning of it while it could be controlled, but this should be 

 done so as to cause as little injury as possible to new growth, 

 and especial care should be taken to save seeding trees. The 

 cost of such work has been urged against it, but this has often 

 been overestimated, and it seems evident that it is entirely prac- 

 ticable. 



The Methods of Fighting Surface Fires are various, and 

 their use depends on the conditions under which the work must 

 be done. Where possible the plowing of a firebreak a rod or 

 more wide is most satisfactory, but this is seldom practicable 

 within our wooded areas. Back Firing is generally the most 

 successful method of making a firebreak. When this is to be 

 practiced, a convenient place to fight fire should be chosen, at 

 some distance ahead of the main fire, where the back fire should 

 be started, after every precaution has been taken to prevent its 

 getting beyond control. Where a supply of water can be 

 obtained, surface fires can be most easily put out by applying it 

 through a common sprinkling pot, with a good rose sprinkler 

 on it. This is especially effective where fire is running through 

 grass, and those who have never tried it will generally be sur- 

 prised at the effectiveness of this method. Where the fire is 

 burning several inches of leaves a small strip should be cleaned 

 of them before applying the water. Gunny sacks or similar 

 .material, wet in water, make very effective weapons with which 

 to fight fire. Where the soil is sandy, sand is often the best 

 material obtainable for putting out fires. 



Underground Fires, such as occur in bogs and other soils 

 containing a large amount of organic matter, when once started, 

 are often very hard to subdue, owing to their great depth, and, 

 where not looked after, sometimes burn for a year or more 

 unless we have very heavy rains. They often cause great injury 



