268 SYLVICULTURE IN THE TROPICS pt.iv 



more moisture either in the soil or in the atmosphere. 

 Some writers advocate throwing part of the grass from 

 the guide-lines on the forest side. The object of this is 

 to provide material for quickly starting counter-fires in 

 cases of conflagrations within the forest. This may be 

 possible in certain forests, but in others, especially those 

 liable to be exposed to shifting winds, it would make the 

 line burning become a very difficult and risky job, as any 

 spark flying back would be apt to set fire to the forest. 



The trees which have been felled on the guide-line 

 and the stumps which have been extracted should be 

 removed out of the forest and sold, if possible ; but if 

 there is no sale they should in no case be allowed to 

 remain lying either on the guide-line or on the trace, where 

 they would become constant sources of danger in the 

 dissemination of fires, but they should be removed some 

 distance into the forest, and far enough not to be set 

 alight when the lines are being burned. 



All dead leaves, twigs, and other inflammable debris 

 which are lying on the guide-line should be swept 

 against the trace. It is evident that leaves, etc., will 

 always be falling on the guide-line, but all efforts should 

 be made to have it as clean as possible by the time the 

 trace is set fire to. 



The same rule regarding trees felled on a cleared 

 trace applies as with respect to those on guide-lines. 

 They should be removed out of the danger zone, if 

 possible to a safe place out of the forest, and efforts 

 should be made to dispose of them. The grass on the 

 trace is not usually cut, but in some districts it is pressed 

 down from the guide-line some way in towards the centre 

 of the trace. This renders it more inflammable, and 

 makes the burning easier. It may also be useful in the 

 case of interior fire-lines to cut cross lines from distance 

 to distance in order to check the too great impetus of 

 the flames. Such lines are also useful for stopping the 

 burning of the line, should the time or weather be 

 adverse to the continuation of the work. 



Fire-lines may be made entirely artificially, by cut- 



