PROTECTION AGAINST FOREST FIRES. 243 



trees dying off here and there, it will often be necessary to take 

 steps towards their clearance; this is more especially the case 

 with regard to conifers, owing to the danger which then becomes 

 imminent from insect enemies. Whenever any considerable fire 

 has occurred in coniferous crops, the attention of the foresters 

 and woodmen will be specially required for the purpose of noting 

 anything like an increase in the number of insects injurious to 

 forest growth, and more especially of the species inclined to breed 

 in or near the roots and the lower portions of the stems. 



From a sylvicultural point of view, it will be advisable to 

 replant or sow the areas denuded of their crops, in order to 

 obviate the continuation of the loss of increment on the one 

 hand, and to prevent the soil from becoming covered with a rank 

 growth of grass and weeds, and hence losing its productive capacity, 

 or from becoming exhausted by exposure to sun and wind. 



