FIREWARDEN'S REPORT. 21 



occurred within the three spring months. It is also significant 

 that with almost no exception every fire that burned a large 

 area was recorded between March and the end of May, with 

 the greater proportion in the latter month. High winds accom- 

 panying the drouth created such a situation that the setting any 

 fire on or near forest land was foolhardy and the control of 

 one having appreciable headway in all probability a matter of 

 days instead of hours. 



Dry weather continued well through August, when heavy 

 rains gave a much-needed relief, and, though the September 

 precipitation was below the normal, it tided over the hazard 

 until the frequent and generous rainfall of October gave com- 

 parative security. 



Despite the tendency of the whole season to stimulate the 

 occurrence of fires, a comparison of the figures for this year 

 and those of 1910 (see Table I), brings out a decided decrease 

 for the year. Trie relation of each separate month to the year's 

 total is given in Table II and points peculiarly to one acutely 

 abnormal month in May when 189 fires burned this year instead 

 of last year's 42. Further, the fires that now occur are more 

 and more confined to those periods of the year when the condi- 

 tions of weather and the seasonal activities may properly be 

 expected to produce the greatest danger. Cleaning up and 

 clearing land, with the consequent disposal of the brush and 

 refuse, in the spring, and berrying and gunning in the late sum- 

 mer and fall, are properly chargeable with these conditions in 

 the main. 



