16 
HO USE & GARDEN 
conditions. These lines of subdivisions acted then not only as 
fire checks, but also enabled one to get to any threatened part 
quickly, which is very important in case of an actual forest 
fire. In many cases these firelines can be used for raising 
field-crops, as is frequently done on continental forests. 
Eliminate Possible Fire Spreaders 
Once having determined from what direction danger from 
fire threatens, and having marked your fireline, cut out all 
underbrush, dead and dying trees which may possibly act as 
fire-spreaders. 
Build burning places at convenient locations and burn in 
these all the valueless material both from firelines as well as 
from the interior of the tract. These burning places should 
he considered as a permanent establishment on your woodland, 
as they come in mighty handy on many later occasions. 
They should he built of stone wherever possible, from 2' to 
4' high, of circular form and of a sufficiently large diameter 
to receive the material to be burnt; 12' to 15' would be about 
right. If you can afford to do it, it is best to grub these 
fire-lines, removing therefrom and burning all roots, for, if the 
roots are left in the ground, the underbrush will grow again 
the following season, and in that case its removal must be 
done again and again, as demands for protection require. 
Have a burning pit on each woodlot. Field stone piled up, as in this case, is sufficient. 
An open bonfire is always a menace. Having cleared the woodlot, separate 
timber and burn the rest 
Had the brush been cleared away in this tract the 
trees would not have been so seriously damaged 
Precautionary Measures 
On smaller tracts, say, five acres and up¬ 
wards, protection against fire can frequently 
be had either by a stone wall, a road, water¬ 
course, etc. 
No matter what kind of protection local con¬ 
ditions may suggest, protection against fire must 
be the very first and permanent rule for under¬ 
takings on your woodland. 
The question of protection having been 
settled, the next thing in order is the removal 
of all dead, dying and valueless trees and 
shrubs from off the tract. This operation is 
called clearing-cuttings to distinguish it from 
improvement-cuttings. While in the first opera¬ 
tion the guiding spirit is to clear the woods of 
all objectionable material, improvement-cuttings 
aim to improve the growth of already estab¬ 
lished trees. 
Frequently it is necessary that, during the 
latter operation, perfectly healthy trees must 
he removed in order to improve the proper 
growth and development of nearby trees. In 
that case it requires good judgment to select 
those which should remain on account of their 
value and general condition, and those which 
ought to be removed as of less value and inter¬ 
fering with those of a more valuable character 
— hence improvement-cuttings. 
Both of these operations, clearing- as well as 
improvement-cuttings, can be done both at the 
same time on smaller tracts, but are not ad¬ 
visable on larger areas. Clearing-cuttings in 
the latter case should come first. 
All material in this work fit for fuel purposes 
should be cut, stacked up in cords 8' long, 4' 
high and wide at places whence it can be re¬ 
moved easily. 
