120 ELEMENTARY FORESTRY. 
times when the ground is wet and fire is not likely to get beyond 
control. On the other hand, it is well known that there are 
many seedlings on such land that would be seriously injured or 
destroyed by such treatment. It is also known that under the 
trash left after logging are generally found about the best condi- 
tions for pine seeds to start and for the seedlings to grow, so 
that some of our best authorities condemn the practice. It 
would seem, however, that on account of the great liability of 
fires starting in such trash, prudence would generally advocate 
the burning of it while it could be controlled, but this should be 
done so as to cause as little injury as possible to new growth, 
and especial care should be taken to save seeding trees. The 
cost of such work has been urged against it, but this has often 
been overestimated, and it seems evident that it is entirely prac- 
ticable. 
The Methods of Fighting Surface Fires are various, and 
their use depends on the conditions under which the work must 
be done. Where possible the plowing of a firebreak a rod or 
more wide is most satisfactory, but th's is seldom practicable 
within our wooded areas. Back Firing is generally the most 
successful method of making a firebreak. When this is to be 
practiced, a convenient place to fight fire should be chosen, at 
some distance ahead of the main fire, where the back fire should 
be started, after every precaution has been taken to prevent its 
getting beyond control. Where a supply of water can be 
obtained, surface fires can be most easily put out by applying it 
through a common sprinkling pot, with a good rose sprinkler 
on it. This is especially effective where fire is running through 
grass, and those who have never tried it will generally be sur- 
prised at the effectiveness of this method. Where the fire is 
burning several inches of leaves a small strip should be cleaned 
of them before applying the water. Gunny sacks or similar 
material, wet in water, make very effective weapons with which 
to fight fire. Where the soil is sandy, sand is often the best 
material obtainable for putting out fires. 
Underground Fires, such as occur in bogs and other soils 
containing a large amount of organic matter, when once started, 
are often very hard to subdue, owing to their great depth, and, 
where not looked after, sometimes burn for a year or more 
unless we have yery heavy rains. They often cause great injury 
