114 PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



the lower branches broken off from time to time, 

 there will be less food for the flames, and the fire will 

 be more readily stayed. 



To some these remarks may be considered as 

 emanating from the brain of an alarmist, but we 

 have seen great injury done which might have been 

 avoided by such reasonable foresight. 



We strongly recommend all land agents who have 

 the control of large areas of fir-plantations on or near 

 waste land, to take the hint and create fire-lineii, 

 although it is unlikely that hot summers will occur 

 year by year in this variable climate. 



We have so far dwelt upon the prevention of fires, 

 and in this instance prevention is better than cure ; 

 but fires will occur, and differences of opinion will also 

 occur as to the best methods of extinguishment ; and 

 it seems somewhat presumptuous to offer advice. We 

 nevertheless recommend the lighting of lines of fires 

 to leeward and encouraging the advance to windward. 

 This can only be done, however, successfully where 

 plenty of men are available to check the spread to 

 leeward. 



