FORESTS ON FIRE. 22S 



many ages, to the substance we now call 

 coal." 



Such, I believe to be the fact. Madam," 

 said Mr. Longhurst. Indeed, such things 

 as nuts and acorns sometimes appear, with 

 sprigs and branches of wood, reduced to coal. 



This leads us," I said, to the other cause 

 of destruction to Forests— ^Ve. To this the 

 pine-forests are most liable, from their very 

 combustible nature." 



But who is to set them on fire ?" demanded 

 Harry. 



Lightning," I replied ; or the careless- 

 ness of men. The Laplanders and boatmen 

 think nothing of making fires in the woods, 

 and leaving them alight ; by which, miles 

 of the finest pine forests are continually 

 destroyed." 



But," said Mr. Longhurst, the fires 



