300 AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. [August, 
rCOp-JKIGHT SECURED.] 
FIGHTING THE FIR E.— Drawn and Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
Tim engraving depicts a scene which is of 
frequent occurrence amongst those who live in 
the woods. That useful servant, hut destruc¬ 
tive master, lire, however, is not confined wholly 
to timbered countries, but devastates prairie 
districts just as severely and as frequently as it 
does wooded ones. The fires of the last two 
years in both western and eastern parts of the 
country have shown that one is as equally sub¬ 
ject to the infliction as the other. Under 
present circumstances it is well to calculate on 
their annual occurrence, and be prepared ac¬ 
cordingly. The volumes of sparks and glowing 
cinders shot forth from the smoke-stacks of the 
innumerable locomotives that now make their 
way across our country can not fail to set thou¬ 
sands of fires, and the most watchful care and 
effective means of preventing their spread are 
necessary to confine them within the least de¬ 
structive limits. A small fire may be controlled, 
but an extensive one is beyond human power. 
The first effort should therefore be directed to 
forming fireguards. These in a wooded coun¬ 
try should consist of broad cleared strips around 
each clearing and outside of the fences. This 
should be burnt off each spring, and a few fur¬ 
rows plowed on each side of it. If a fire should 
occur, brands and sparks will fall within this 
strip, where they may be extinguished, as may 
also the gradual creeping of the fire upon the 
dry ground by earth scattered upon them. 
Earth is much more effective in extinguishing a 
running fire than water. The water dries up 
and the fire consumes it, but earth is incom¬ 
bustible, and by preventing access of air smoth¬ 
ers out the fire. A prairie fireguard consists of 
double back furrows plowed around the home¬ 
stead about twelve feet apart. If a dangerous 
fire is approaching, the strip between two of 
these furrows should be burned off. No com¬ 
mon fire will pass this guard, but if the ap¬ 
proaching fire is accompanied by a strong wind 
it would be well to burn over two of them, as 
well as to make a back fire to meet the one 
approaching. In burning over the guards it is 
best to use precautions against the escape of the 
fire from the proper limits. These guards should 
be prepared before the dry season has advanced, 
and the security against the danger would be 
greatly strengthened. A few shovelfuls of earth 
thrown upon a newly-started fire will imme¬ 
diately quench it. When buildings are threat¬ 
ened, the best plan is to hang blankets and 
quilts over the roofs and gables, and, placing a 
ladder up to the peaks of the roor, pass water 
along it and keep the blankets saturated. The 
water running off at the eaves will protect the 
walls, and will keep the fire from creeping very 
close up to them. Above all things, neighbors 
should act in concert. By gathering at exposed 
points and working together, a fire may often 
be overcome and a whole settlement be saved. 
A line should be formed of men armed with 
shovels, who should throw the earth in regular 
belts, and retreat’as the fire advances; each 
belt of scattered earth will gradually reduce the 
fire, until finally it may be beaten out with the 
backs of the shovels. Remembering the great 
danger in which farmers are constantly placed 
from autumn fires, and the facilily with which 
the railroads originate and spread them, it would 
not be amiss at this time to add this as a count 
in the gathering indictment against these cor¬ 
porations, and take means to compel them to 
clear up the limits of their tracks, and to con¬ 
fine the fires they create within these limits, or 
to make them responsible for the damage oc¬ 
curring. Properly guarded smoke-stacks to the 
locomotives will prevent much of the damage 
from railroads, and cleared or plowed strips on 
each side of the road will also help. 
