56 THE SCHOOL BOOK OF FORESTRY 



be beaten out with green branches, wet gunny 

 sacks or blankets. The leaves and debris may 

 be raked away in a path so as to impede 

 their advance. 



Usually in the hardwood forests, there is not 

 much cover, such as dry leaves, on the ground. 

 Fires in these forests destroy the seedlings and 

 saplings, but do not usually kill the mature trees. 

 However, they damage the base of the trees and 

 make it easy for fungi and insects to enter. They 

 also burn the top soil and reduce the water- 

 absorbing powers of the forest floor. In thick, 

 dense evergreen forests where the carpet is heavy, 

 fires are much more serious. They frequently 

 kill the standing trees, burning trunks and 

 branches and even following the roots deep into 

 the ground. Dead standing trees and logs aid 

 fires of this kind. The wind sweeps pieces of 

 burning bark or rotten wood great distances to 

 kindle new fires. When they fall, dead trees 

 scatter sparks and embers over a wide belt. Fires 

 also run along the tops of the coniferous trees 

 high above the ground. These are called ' ' crown- 

 fires" and are very difficult to control. 



The wind plays a big part in the intensity of 

 a forest fire. If the fire can be turned so that it 



