70 FORESTRY 



gradually narrowed into a wedge-like shape, and ultimately 

 extinguished. A spadeful of earth dug hastily and thrown 

 over any part where the iire threatens to cross the protection 

 lines is -found to be most efficacious. 



Crown fires are customarily stopped by felling a strip of 

 trees along a road or fire line sufficiently far in advance 

 of the fire to enable the operation to be complete before the 

 flames reach the point selected. The trees are felled in 

 the direction of the fire, and, if time allow, their crowns 

 are cut off and removed beyond reach of sparks. 



In extreme cases, it is necessary to counter-fire. Counter- 

 firing, or " back-firing," as it is sometimes called, consists in 

 burning the woods along one of the defence lines to prevent 

 the fire spreading into adjoining parts. It is able to proceed 

 against the wind that is bringing on the main fire, owing to 

 the fact that there is a draught towards the centre of con- 

 flagration. When the counter-fire meets the main one, both 

 are extinguished from want of fuel. 



After a fire has apparently spent itself, careful watching is 

 still necessary until all danger of recrudescence is past. 



Young woods of conifers that have suffered severely should 

 be at once cleared and replanted. Dead and sickly conifers 

 left from a forest fire are apt to become infested with insect 

 enemies, particularly Hylesinus piniperda (the pine beetle). 

 With broad-leaved trees there is not the same cause for 

 haste, and it is often advisable to wait another season to 

 exactly ascertain the extent of the injury. Where a surface 

 fire has passed over an area occupied by young Oaks, and 

 damaged them, the plants will usually send up an abundant 

 stock of coppice shoots if they are at once cut over close 

 to the ground. 



Protection against Mammals and Birds 



The Mammalia harmful to woods may be considered in 

 the following order : (a) Domestic Grazing Animals, (b) 

 Game, (c) The smaller Rodents. 



