FIRE 87 



As to Fire. The danger from fire is one of the greatest 

 risks with which afforestation is attended. And when 

 planting and tending crops, every means must be taken to 

 minimise this risk as far as possible. 



The greatest damage is to be apprehended in the case of 

 coniferous crops, and especially Scots and Corsican Pine. 

 When planting such crops, all heather and rank growth on 

 the surface of the land should always be burnt. And Fire 

 belts or Fire lines ought generally to be planted. 



About every 40 acres should be surrounded by a fire 

 belt ; and they should also be planted by the side of any 

 much frequented public road, and on either side of railway 

 lines. 



These fire belts should be about 40 feet wide, and should 

 be composed of broad-leaved trees. The best plan is to 

 keep them periodically coppiced, and thus have a very 

 dense canopy, under which it is impossible for heather or 

 grass to grow. Only one half of the width should be 

 coppiced at a time, and the other half should be cut some 

 8 or 10 years later when that portion which was first cut is 

 well grown up. 



Poplars are the least inflammable of any trees, but, as 

 these fire belts are usually required on very dry Pine soils, 

 probably the best trees to plant will be the False Acacia 

 (Robinia), White Alder, and Birch. 



On the better soils, fire lines may be made very much 

 wider, and mature broad-leaved trees grown ; but care must 

 be taken to keep the canopy always dense, and avoid clear 

 cutting. 



Fire lines of barren sand are very effective, but their 

 cost is usually prohibitive. 



Ordinary ditches, cut round the compartments, are, how- 

 ever, convenient points at which to attempt to stop an 

 existing fire. 



It is always very advisable to keep all grass on the rides 

 cut, and have it removed, so that, when a fire occurs, it will 

 not easily spread across a ride, 



