334 FORESTRY IN NEW ENGLAND 



sandiest soils scrub oak is encouraged in the same way. The 

 fires are, of course, more apt to start on cut-over lands, but run 

 readily through stands of heavy timber. The ground cover of 

 wet moss characteristic of the forest in the spruce region, and 

 which, under ordinary circumstances prevents fire in an uncut 

 stand, is here lacking. On sandy and gravelly soils in the 

 white pine region the pine duff readily dries out and becomes 

 inflammable. Stands of young pine fall an easy victim even to 

 light fires, as on entering such a stand the fire feeds on the 

 tinder-like dead branches covering the lower parts of the trunk. 



The forest fire season is a longer one in the white pine region 

 than in the two more northerly ones, due to the shorter winters. 

 This is mainly noticeable in the southern half of the region, and 

 not in the Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire portions. 

 Statistics published by the State Forester of Massachusetts for 

 1909 show that fires occurred in that state during every month 

 in the year except December. In other years fires have occurred 

 during that month, so that the season can be said to last the 

 entire year, but for practical purposes the winter months are 

 free from fires. Beginning the first of March and from then 

 until well into November, forest fires may be expected. As 

 previously stated in discussing fire conditions in the northern 

 hardwoods region, the occurrence of wet or dry periods through- 

 out the year really fixes the dangerous fire season. Within 

 the last few years there has been variation enough in climatic 

 conditions to allow serious fires in all months of the year, from 

 March to November, inclusive. Prolonged droughts under 

 present conditions are certain to result in a large number of 

 forest fires. 



Railroad locomotives are responsible for starting more forest 

 fires than any other known cause. The close network of rail- 

 road fines and the frequent passage of locomotives directly 

 through wooded areas increase their importance as a cause of 

 fires. In the sections where extensive wooded areas occur on 

 sandy soils, as, for example, in southeastern Massachusetts, 

 locomotives are especially dangerous to the forest. Many fires 



