FOREST PROTECTION 9 



D: THE FACTORS INFLUENCING THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE ARE: 

 The age of the woods. 

 The aspect of the slope. 



The severity of the wind, and the uphill or downhill direction of the wind. 

 The season of the year and the preceding duration of drought. 

 The silvicultural system. 



The amount of debris and humus on the ground. 

 The species forming the forest (conifers have less reproductive power; 



light demanders usually have fireproof armor of bark; thin or thick 



layer of sap wood.) 



E: THE MEASURES TAKEN AGAINST FOREST FIRES ARE EITHER OF A PRE- 

 VENTIVE OR OF A REMEDIAL NATURE: 



I. Preventive measures : 



Education of the people and of the legislature through the news- 

 papers and from the pulpit. 



Friendly relations with all neighbors. 



Securing proper fire laws and publishing notices giving the essence 

 of such laws. 



The purchase of all interior holdings. 



Settlements of tenants within the forest. 



Telephone connection in the forest. 



Fire lanes (in India up to 400' wide) kept clear from inflammable 

 material. Such lanes exist along all European railroads. In 

 America the main advantage of a fire lane lies in the possi- 

 bility of back firing with the lane as a basis. 



Trails or roads, further strips of pasture along the ridges and strips 

 of farmland along the creeks form the most useful fire lanes. 



Burning all around the forest at the beginning of the dangerous 

 season. 



Burning debris after lumbering a measure of doubted expediency. 



Removing debris from the close proximity of valuable trees. 



Proper contracts for all work in the woods by which the liability 

 for damage caused by fires is thrown upon the contractor. 



Annual burning of the woods intended to prevent the accumu- 

 lation of vegetable matter or mould. (Pineries of the South). 



Removing duff from the close proximity of turpentine boxes. 



Stock law. 



Associations of forest owners, as in Idaho, Washington and Oregon. 



Pasture by cattle and hogs to cause a more rapid decomposition 

 of the vegetable carpet. 



Unceasing patrol of the forest during the dry season or during dry 

 spells, day and night, by an increased staff of watchmen, thor- 

 oughly acquainted with their beat and with the people living 

 in the neighborhood. 



