PROTECTION 153 
acres which is divided into several parts, each of 
which is leased to some responsible party who as- 
sumes the whole care of burning over the land, keep- 
ing off trespassers, harvesting, and marketing the 
crop. Every year a certain section of each “ lease ” 
is burned over. This burning must be done very early 
in the spring, before the ground becomes dry, other- 
wise the fire burns too deep, the humus is burned 
from the ground, and most of the bushes are killed. 
Unfortunately in many districts, especially in the 
South, the natives burn land which belongs to other 
people in order to improve the pasturage or the 
berry crop. There is no doubt that both pasture 
and berry lands are improved by burning, if the 
burning is conducted carefully at the proper time of 
the year. But the custom is a dangerous one. for 
several reasons. It has been practised so long by the 
natives of our South that they look upon it in the 
light of a poor man’s privilege and not a crime. It 
has developed in some regions into a custom not un- 
like the peasant rights of Europe. 
Even in forestry, fire may be often used to advan- 
tage in ridding the ground of an excess of humus 
and slash. In the Esterel, in France, where it is 
difficult to prevent fires at certain times of the year, 
the forest-floor is systematically burnt over when 
there is little danger. Every year, from December 
