582 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



first gale of autumn, the trees on the whole burnt area are prostrated, 

 and generally in the greatest confusion, for every tree is torn up by the 

 roots, and seems just as likely to fall one way as another. There was an 

 instance of this kind of burning in the summer of 1871, about two miles 

 north of the Glen house, between the river and the road ; also, the same 

 season, on the mountain south of West Milan, and the fire was not put 

 out until after the snow came. On the summits of the mountains, 

 where there is nothing scarcely except lichens and sedges, if a fire is 

 kindled in these when they are dry, which is a thing quite uncommon, it 

 sweeps across the mountains with incredible rapidity; and the roaring of 

 the flames can be heard for miles, when they reach the stunted growth 

 of the spruce and the fir. On a mountain of moderate elevation in North 

 Stratford, it is said that the lightning set the woods on fire ; but such 

 cases must be extremely rare. When the fire, instead of being confined 



Fig. 68. MX. HAYES. 

 Illustrating the aspect of mountains that have been burnt over. 



to the ground, runs up the white birch, the bark of which is so inflam- 

 mable, it catches in the branches of the coniferous trees, and streams 

 far above their summits in columns and streamers of lurid flame; the 

 wind carries pieces of lighted wood across the widest streams ; and the 



