232 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



without being destroyed. This protective moth belt is usually 

 kept sprayed, and thus the insects are poisoned before they get 

 across it. 



This same belt can also be utilized as a forest fire line, as it 

 serves to make a stand against a fire, if it is so desired. Old 

 wood roads can be made to answer nicely for these belts. In the 

 first place, the road is needed for getting spraying pum])s 

 through for moth sui)pression, and forest fire wagons need simi- 

 lar conditions; and, if roadsides are widened on either side, 

 giving the width mentioned, both purposes are accomplished. 

 Forest wardens and moth superintendents should take advantage 

 of these conditions, and work together in getting more of these 

 protective belts in the town. 



Cape Forest Fires. 



Each year great waste and destruction from forest fires seem 

 to visit some section of the Cape country. This condition has 

 continued so long and become so common that not only are many 

 thousands of acres reduced to acorn Ijrush deserts, but, from 

 their being burned over every few years as soon as they accumu- 

 late enough vegetation to feed the flames, there is little likeli- 

 hood of conditions improving until something is done. 



Where fires have been kept out and even nature had a chance 

 to assist, we find sufficient forest growth to really amount to con- 

 siderable commercial value. Even on rough, rocky and ledgy 

 lands, as well as those of pure sand, if we will keep out fires so 

 that a forest floor can accumulate, the mulch or humus, which 

 is composed of decaying leaves, twigs, etc., will form and here 

 magnificent forests can be grown. The early history of this 

 coimtry tells us that the Cape was completely forested, and if it 

 was once, it can be again reforested under modern methods. 

 First of all we must stop the forest fires. 



The pitch pine revels in the Cape conditions more than most 

 other species, because it has a thick bark and can withstand 

 fires better than most other trees; and then, again, it propagates 

 easily from seed, even small specimens yielding more or less 

 cones. If this tree will grow under such adverse conditions, 

 were we to assist it in its struggle and even collect and ])lant or 



