THE CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT 



BY BRISTOW ADAMS 



FIRE IN THE WOODS 



MAY day in 1903, a small boy in Hamilton 



Ccunty, New York, was sent out to find 



a cowbell which had been lost in the 



biush at the edge of the field in which 



the cow grazed during the summer. 



This field also furnished a supply of hay 



to cany it over winter. 



Hamilton County is covered almost entirely by 



the Adirondack Mountains, and is a succession 



of dense forests and beautiful lakes, with here 



and there a small farm clearing in between. On all of 



the maps issued by the Government to show by colors 



WATCHING FOB FOREST FIRES 



The lookout, perched on a high point of the mountain, is able to see 

 miles in all directions. As Boon as the smoke of a forest rire is 

 seen, its location is telephoned to the fire fighters in the valley 

 below, and they are soon at work. 



how much crops are grown, how much goods are manu- 

 factured, or how many people there are to the square 

 mile, Hamilton County appears in a very light shade or 

 even white. Even though it does not take a high rank 

 in crops, in goods, and in number of people, it serves a 

 good purpose as a playground and source of health for all 

 of New York State, and for much more of the surrounding 

 country. 



So much for the geography of Hamilton County ; now 

 let us return to the small boy who went out to find the 

 cowbell in the corner of the field. 



This cowbell was worth 20 cents. When the boy went 

 out to find it he went through the kitchen on his way to 

 the back door, because that was the shortest to the 

 meadow. As he went out he took some matches in order 

 that he might burn away the brush and last year's trash 

 and leaves so that he could the easier see the bell. The 

 fire would not hurt the bell at all and would readily dis- 

 close its hiding place. 



To make the story short, the boy started a little fire, 

 and before it was out there was no more use for the bell. 

 The fire swept over all the field and burned up the fences ; 

 it burned the cow which had worn the bell, destroyed the 

 barn and the hay which had housed and fed the cow, and 

 even the little house in which the boy, his father, mother, 

 and sister had lived. Then it swept on and destroyed 

 acres of beautiful timber. That it did not actually con- 

 sume the boy himself and his family was due to the fact 

 that they were fortunately able to get into a nearby lake 

 and stay there, almost submerged, until the roaring 

 flames had passed over their heads. 



ALL forest fires are not so damaging; some are much 

 more so. There are many examples of fires in the 

 Lake States, the Rocky Mountain States, and on 

 the Pacific coast, which have meant great harm and the 

 loss of many lives. 



But every little fire which goes through the woods does 

 more damage than can be counted. It may be one that 

 will set back the starting of a new forest for several years. 



fighting a kokkst kirk 



These men are not trying to quench the flames, but are clearing away 

 inflammable material which lies in the path of this forest fire so 

 that it will quickly burn out for lack of fuel. 



Many of the cone-bearing trees, for example, bear good 

 crops of seed only at long intervals, of from five or seven 

 years. Possibly one of these seed years comes when 

 conditions are favorable for the growth of the little seed- 

 lings and they spring up all through the woods. Then a 

 spring fire goes through and seems to do no more harm 

 than to burn off the leaf litter of the preceding fall ; yet it 

 will kill all of the tender pine trees which have just 

 started. There will be no other seed year for a number 

 of years, and then, when it does come, it is not unlikely 

 that unfavorable weather conditions such as drought will 



