EECLAIMING LAND. 137 



ing brush, sparks from locomotives, fires carelessly left by 

 persons camping, hunting or fishing; also from the use of 

 impropei' gun-wads, from tramps and from malice. 



It is also said that the friction of dry wood in high winds 

 has set forests on fire, but I doubt whether we have yet in 

 Massachusetts trees of sufficient age to thus commit suicide. 



Proper laws, and vigilance on the part of the constituted 

 authorities, will do much in the right direction ; and as 

 improvements in laws are required, they will undoubtedly 

 receive due attention. 



But the root of the danger lies in the great lack of appre- 

 ciation of the works of nature, and their usefulness, which 

 is wanting among far too large a per cent, of our population. 



I have known of cases where a certain fire department 

 were unwilling to assist in putting out a woodland fire be- 

 cause it was not considered a part of their duty. Of course, 

 the law passed last winter clearly defines such to be a duty, 

 and the aforesaid fire department has since promptly re- 

 sponded under that law. 



A more extensive knowledge of the laws governing the 

 growth of animals, trees, plants, etc., would tend to be a 

 irreat benefit : and it would be wise to introduce into the 

 systems of education more that relates to these useful and 

 interesting liranches of study. 



The training to be so derived must be useful, and we can- 

 not question but that such knowledge, incidental to that 

 training, would prove not only useful but interesting. 



It is at home and in the public schools where we can best 

 impress upon children especially the dangers from fires. 



Locomotives are being quite generally provided with 

 spark arresters now, which greatly lessen the risks from 

 fires in that direction. 



Where they start in woodlands, the best remedy is to plow 

 a line of furrows, when that is possible, around the fire, or 

 to set back-fires. 



In setting out plantations of forest trees it is wise to have 

 pathways through them where fires can be fought, by run- 

 ning furrows, starting back-fires, watering, or beating with 

 I)ou"hs. 



I have found that sprinkling the surface by the aid of a 



