338 AGRICULTURE ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE 



more money in that way. He does not bother himself 

 about how it affects the farmer, nor about what will 

 happen to the country when the forests are all gone. 



The only way to save the forests is to have the govern- 

 ment look after them. Every one should help to bring 

 this about. Then we shall have all the lumber we need 

 without destroying our forests. 



Every year great stretches of forest are destroyed 

 by fires which sweep over them (figure 176). Some- 

 times these are started on purpose, sometimes by care- 

 lessness. They can and ought to be prevented. The 

 best way to stop fires is to have broad lanes cut through 

 the forest so that when the fire comes to one of them it 

 may be stopped. Men must be employed to watch the 

 forest, so as to stop the fire before it can get a good 

 start. 



Private owners of forests should be compelled by 

 law to take care of their forests, so that fires cannot 

 start there, for such fires may quickly spread over a 

 large district. 



Grazing by animals, especially by sheep, must be 

 regulated so as to prevent killing the young trees. 



HOW TREES GROW 



When you look at a stump, you see the rings of the 

 wood, one of which is usually made each year. You 

 can tell by the thickness of the ring whether the tree 



