FOREST FIRES 



143 



(c) A portion of this or a strip six to ten feet wide to be 

 grubbed out, and, if possible, plowed to prevent ground fires. 



Fig. 52. — A completely cleared fire line in a stand of mixed hardwoods on ground too 

 rocky to plow. The line has recently been cleared of leaves and occasional sprouts 

 from the old stumps. This is done twice a year. 



The cost of a fire line of this kind would vary, according to the 

 topography, the nature of the forest, and the thoroughness with 

 which it is made, from $25 to $100 a mile. The maximum 

 expenditure could hardly be justified except in the case of very 

 valuable forests in extremely exposed situations, but there are 



