THE BED SPRUCE. 63 



area, so tliat if the fire is properly timed the brush can be burned 

 while the timbered area is still too damp to burn freely. 



Isolating and subdividing burning area. — The area to be burned 

 over must first be isolated from the contiguous uncut areas by the 

 clearing of all inflammable matter from wide strips on all sides. This 

 may be accomplished by throwing all tops and lops for a distance of 

 from 20 to 40 feet from the edge in toward the center of the cleared 

 area. It would be preferable, though, to clear away, pile, and burn 

 all brush on such strips in the manner previously described before 

 attempting to burn the remainder. If the cleaned area is of con- 

 siderable extent, a wise precaution would be to pile and burn similar 

 fire lines through the middle, thus dividing the area into halves or 

 quarters. If the area is small, the logging roads will serve as inter- 

 mediate fire lines. 



With the necessary control lines cleared and burned, the general 

 burning would begin at the leeward side or along the upper end if the 

 cleared strip is on a hillside. The plots between logging roads would 

 serve as units for burning. Only alternate plots along the leeward 

 or uphill front should be kindled, and these should be allowed to 

 burn down before another set is fired. 



The method is unquestionably more dangerous than burning in 

 piles, demanding a larger force to handle it. Careful judgment in 

 the choice of time for burning is essential. The method should never 

 be employed where the mineral soil is thin or nearly lacking as is the 

 case on many of the steep, bowlder-strewn upper slopes in both New 

 Hampshire and the Adirondacks. Under such circumstances the 

 main purpose would be defeated and the slopes rendered barren and 

 unproductive 



LIGHT BURNING. 



Under certain conditions the annual or periodic burning of the 

 litter under growing stands might be advisable. Where there are 

 dense, even-aged, planted, or natural stands in which thinnings are 

 not to be made and therefore humus disintegrations can not be con- 

 trolled, an occasional light burning would afford protection from 

 damage by an uncontrolled ground fire during a drought. The soil 

 would also be put in a more receptive condition for reproduction when 

 the final cutting was made. The operation requires extreme care, 

 otherwise its purpose will be defeated. 



The recommendation for the use of this means of fire protection 

 and soil improvement is qualified and made contingent upon the 

 adoption of the following precautions: 



The stand to be thus treated must be established on moderately 

 deep mineral soil. 



Except where the slope is very gentle, any accumulation of litter 

 should be removed from the upslope side of the trees before burning. 



