Forest Fires. 341 



under protection. In 1902 nearly 37,000 square 

 miles, or nearly 40% of the area in reserve, but only 

 12% of the total government forest area, were under 

 protection at a cost of S4.00 per square mile or less than 

 one cent per acre, half of what it was 10 years before, 

 and over 2 per cent, of the gross revenue. Nearly 

 5,000 fires occurred, to be sure, which burnt over 3,000,- 

 000 acres, that is to say over 90 per cent, of the area 

 the protection was effective. For nearly half the 

 fires the cause remains unknown. Danger from fire 

 has, however, become less in protected areas because of 

 the changes in herbage and moisture conditions. Yet 

 it costs still about two per cent, of the gross revenue to 

 protect the area, and the figures just cited show that 

 this expenditure is only partially effective. 



The first successful attempts to deal with forest fires 

 were made in 1864 by Major (now Colonel) G. F. Pear- 

 son, who was then Conservator of Forests in the Central 

 Provinces, and who devised a system of cleared fire 

 lines or "fire traces," surrounding the areas to be 

 protected, which were cut and burned over early in 

 the season, a system now in vogue in all India. In the 

 jungle forests the traces must be broad; the grass often 

 taller than an elephant must be cut and burned before 

 the grass on either side is dry enough to burn. 



This protection forms the most important duty of 

 the forest officials, a trying one as it has to be carried on 

 during the hot season. 



A separate branch of the forest service carries on the 

 work of surveying and mapping the forest area instead 

 of the regular Survey of India, with the result of cheap- 

 ening the cost. Some 60,000 square miles have been 



