102 THE USE BOOK. 



there. In handling back fires great- care is needed 

 to avoid useless burning; therefore they should 

 never be set except by forest officers, unless in great 

 emergencies. 



The night or the early morning is the best time to 

 work whenever any choice exists, for nearly all forest 

 fires die down, more or less, during the cool of the 

 night and flare up again during the heat of the day. 



Following are several general principles to be borne 

 in mind: 



(a) Protect the valuable timber rather than the brush 

 or waste. 



(b) Never leave a fire, unless driven away, until it is 

 entirely out. 



(c) Young saplings suffer more than old mature 

 timber. 



(d) A surface fire in open woods, though not dan- 

 gerous to old timber, does great harm by killing 

 seedlings. 



(e) A fire rushes uphill, crosses a crest slowly, and 

 is more or less checked in traveling down. Therefore, 

 if possible, use the crest of the ridge and the bottom 

 as lines of attack. 



(f) A good trail, a road, a stream, an open park 

 check the fire. Use them whenever possible. 



(g) Dry sand or earth thrown on a fire is usually as 

 effective as water and easier to get. 



(h) A little thinking often saves labor and makes 

 work successful. Ill-planned efforts suggested by haste 

 and excitement rarely lead to success. 



