The Enemies of Trees 



gone, so that there is no means of restoring promptly the supply 

 of humus necessary for seed to germinate. 



Trees fall over in such a "burn." Grass, one of the forest's 

 ancient enemies, creeps in. The sun and wind steal the soil water: 

 it runs off as floods in spring rains, overflowing streams that run 

 dry in summer. Gullies are formed where the cracked soil 

 washes. Insects and fungi attack trees, young and old, which 

 were crippled but not killed by the fire. A severe fire destroys 

 the forest equilibrium utterly, reducing the area to a desert state. 



Fires under control are sometimes justified in forests of 

 indifferent quality. Tracts covered with blueberry and black- 

 berry are systematically burned in Maine and other states because 

 the new growth fruits better than the old canes. In other 

 regions forests are fired to open them and improve the grazing. 

 A great many fires are set for this purpose by sheep men in remote 

 mountainous woodlands belonging to the Government or to 

 private parties who know nothing of this systematic wholesale 

 stealing. 



PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE 



Practically no attention has been given to providing fire 

 lanes through American forests for the checking of fires when they 

 start. This belongs to intensive forestry, and we have not come 

 to that yet. Consequently fires find us unprepared. A small 

 ground fire can usually be put out near its beginning by beating 

 it with branches bearing mops of green leaves. A narrow track 

 of dirt or sand thrown about the burning area will help to keep 

 it within bounds. Throwing earth or sand on the smouldering 

 leaf mould is one of the best means of choking out fire. If there 

 is time, a belt can be burned across the path of the fire which will 

 end it. Digging narrow trenches is also effective. 



Fires that sweep the forest crown can be stayed only by 

 openings that they cannot bridge broad, natural fire lanes. 

 With a wind blov/ing, such a conflagration flings firebrands in 

 all directions, lighting new fires in the rubbish that litters the 

 forest floor. 



Fighting a forest fire is almost hopeless after it once gets 

 under way. A ground fire may be impossible to locate, though 

 the smoke indicates its existence, and approximately its place. 

 Slash makes progress and fire fighting in the woods very toilsome 



518 



