Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1909-10-29

change OF wind may upset the cal
culations OF the keeper.
II Is no easy job heather-burning on
a clear November morning. with the
ground cracking In the sun like tin
der beneath ones feet. and II 10 dan
gerous TO work single-handed on these
occasions. II is a golden rule to have
plenty Of hands. and a few boys. pro-
sided they can be trusted. are invsiu-
able for watching the ~smoldering
ashes and guarding against a fresh
outbreak while the keepers are work
ing elsewhere. In burning long
strips II IL customary to have two
men on each side. and In q big hre
With a strong wind tanning the flames
these are non too many.
In former days the FIRE was spread
w the required area by means Of
lunches Of dead heather. and much
time used to be wasted In searching
for such material. The modern heath.
or burners. a. shown In n OF the
Illustrations. have rendered this sys-
TEN obsolete. and this innovation IL
to be welcomed rs tightening consid-
crabiy what is probably the scveress
branch Of the keepers work.
That heather. when possible,
should be burnt IN small strips OF
patches is . theory which requires
little proof. II a young brood are
surprised by n bird or beast OF prey
In the middle OF a large open strip
they cannot possibly escape. but In q
small patch they n run to cover n
the first sign Of danger. A. stated
above. however. II Ia necessary "a
burn a neglected moor on a large
scale at first before II can be
brought properly into control and Q
system OF rotation established. There
are few sights more impressive than
that OF a big fire which has got on,
Of control. n We see II from behind,
as is probable II We are helping In
the struggle. We shall see nothing but
a mass OF smoke ahead. In the midst
OF which. dimly outlined. We can dis,
tinguish the forms OF the foremos,
workers From each tussock or tuli
Of heather a splitting flame leaps
cracking ~iercely. breaking out again
at Intervals behind us as We work
blindly On. II Is now no question OF
keeping a level strip. with even edges
and no jagged corners. hut literally
q fight 10 the death Nith the fiery
monster. aud "a struggle from which
We shall emerge with singed hair and
clothes reeking with the smoke. rai
ahead OF US Il leaps EDWARDS. jumpins
rivulets In It's resistless course. huriinr
itself from slope TO slope In ferc,
derision at our puny efforts. per
chance crossing the march into I
neighbor's ground. II matters it'll,
what caused the outbreak. a suddcr
rise OF the wind or a match throw
carelessly among the heather-thcr,
Is time enough afterwards TO discuss
all this. and the reason why. Gu
only object now h 10 regain contro
Of the flames. to stamp them out. an.
then sink exhausted beside som,
cool spring OF streamlet. And so W,
fight our way forward: n broom o
"besom" snaps In half. and anothe
IL snatched from a lad following BE-
hind. TIL suddenly n gust OF win,
blowing down the corrie breaks IN
smoke. aud we rome TO a halt. trI
umphant. on the banks OF a roilickinl
burn. which has temporarily checkeI
the onrush OF the flames.
To realize the magnitude OF such
ire one must view II from a distanc.
and the huge wreath Of smoke bi
lowing up towards the sky. extendin
over. perhaps. a mile Of moorland. an
varied by the tongues OF yelio'
flame, cannot fall to inspire one wit
the sense Of awe which FIRE alon
among the elements can arouse. O
these occasions there IL always N
possibility OF the peat below becomiu
Isnited. and ir dry weather this Ia
serious danger.
Generally. however. keepers svoI
all risk Of such an occurrence
|. burning ANAL strips to check the al
At right angles 10 the direction Of a
: principal IRE. This e~xpedient shou
a,ways b. adopted when burning ne'
> 1. ~o~cx mr. cloae to nolxhboy
marsh; but whore Il 10 possible
: buru IN small patches such preca
tcns are no longer necessary.
H. D. MACPHERSON.