DROUGHT, STORMS, AND FIRES 143 



3. Felling areas should take the form of long narrow strips 

 instead of large square blocks. 



4. No standards of shallow-rooted species should be left 

 standing, as they are almost sure to be blown down. 



5. When felling woods, the strip of weather-beaten trees 

 along the exposed edge, to a width of 50 or 60 feet, should 

 not be felled, but should be left standing to protect the new 

 crop. These trees are usually misshapen and stunted, and it 

 is a mistake to cut them and replant, as the new crop will be 

 no better tfyan the existing one. 



Should windfall occur on any large scale, especially in 

 coniferous woods, every endeavour should be made to sell 

 the fallen timber as soon as possible, as if left in the forest the 

 logs act as breeding-grounds for numerous species of insects. 

 If a sale -cannot be effected at once all conifers should be 

 stripped of bark. 



FIRES 



Fires are caused chiefly by carelessness, but occasionally 

 on purpose by persons having a grudge against the owner or 

 woodman. The chief causes of forest fires are : carelessness 

 in throwing away cigarette ends or lighted matches, care- 

 lessness on the part of workmen in the woods in leaving 

 fires alight on leaving work ; and by sparks from locomotive 

 engines. 



Fires do harm by burning young trees, and by scorching 

 the bark of older trees. They also burn dead leaves and dry 

 humus lying on the ground, thus rendering the soil poor. On 

 an area through which fire has passed there is an additional 

 risk of insects, especially in coniferous woods. 



Danger from fire is greatest in young pine woods, owing to 

 the early drying up of the lower branches ; spruce also burns 

 easily owing to the resinous needles. Amongst broad-leaved 

 trees, rough-barked ones such as oak and elm will stand fires 

 better than smooth-barked trees, such as beech and ash. 



