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Show GUARDING THE FORESTS FROM FIRE I Kcry summer forest fires destroy great areas of timber. In an effort lo limit the destruction to a mini mum. the forest service has estab lished a fire patrol on all the govern menr timber belu and as a result, ji opt In extraordinary seasons, the fire losses are being reiluced. But Curt Thiersch of New York has an elaborate plan of guarding the tree! without the aid of the torest rangers He would plant foliage trees through he pine tree forests and his purpose s explained as follows: It is generally known that the un- controllable and the Irresistible speed f with which forest fires travel is al most invariably due to the presence of conifers. The resinous pine trees, burning like torches, are ideal fire conductors, while foliage trees owing lo the total lack of resin In their trunks and branches and to the moisture mois-ture of their leaves burn slowly and smoulderingly as they afford poor food to the flames. By planting broad zones or belts of foliage trees through the forests of conifers the toreBts would be supplied with an ad mlrable natural preventive against the growth and spreading of devastating devastat-ing forest fires It will, of course, he necessary- to make the foliage tree belts amply broad, In order that they may successfully combat the spread ing forest fi'cs There Is an imperative imper-ative need to conserve and replenish I , our rapidly disappearing forests, and by planting protective belts of foliage trees this end would be compassed without undue difficulties and at a comparatively moderate cost. The initial ini-tial outlay would be abundantly com pensated for by the valuable timber thus grown. Furthermore, the foliage foli-age tree belt would be of Incalculable advantage in strengthening the fire lines which are located at critical . ' points." This is a most ambitious, plan, hut seemingly involves as many problems as the scheme of an engineer to stretch a ten-inch cable two hundred miles into the ocean off the banks of Newfoundland nnd therehy form a barrier of sand which is to divert tho Gulf stream. Foliage treec might not grow where ne hardy pine roots itself on the mountain aide ana, I" the growth were scanty woulu be of no service, and, , ' furthermore, the expense would be prohibitive. |