THE RED SPRUCE. 63 
area, so that 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 circums tances 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. 
