THE NORTHERN HARDWOODS REGION 



293 



ground fires are rarely met with and hence deep trenching is not 

 often needed, and unless there is plenty of dirt available a hoe 

 or rake is more useful. Surface fires are principally encountered 

 and in stopping them a narrow fire line raked or hoed clear of 

 leaves is often all that is necessary, if men are at hand to beat 

 out fires which may be started by sparks blown across the fire 

 line. The methods of fighting ground and crown fires have been 

 previously described. 



Fig. 104. — An abandoned schoolhouse, which indicates more strongly than the abandon- 

 ment of a single house, the decrease in New England's rural population in the last 

 50 years. 



Protectio7i against Grazing Animals. — Damage by grazing 

 animals is quite prevalent in this region. Nearly every farmer 

 has a few cows and horses which are turned out part of the 

 year. With a large majority of the farmers dairying or, in a few 

 cases, the raising of horses and sheep, is the chief business. 



The injury done the forest is not well recognized by the land 

 owners. Cattle are especially fond of browsing on sugar maple 

 seedlings and will prevent good reproduction of this important 

 species on grazed-over lands. A great deal of the land now for- 



