Mr. Thomas Shaw, in an article in the Pioneer Press of St. Paul, declares that the real loss in the fearful forest fires which have raged through the North is far greater than that of the burning of the trees; namely, the injury of the soil. “Not a living thing in the way of vegetation is left; nature has to begin the work of furnishing protection for the naked earth. The farmer who returns to build his home upon the ashes is without material for building or fencing, and soon finds without material for living, except what he buys. But the loss of humus is a far greater loss. The vegetable matter so abundant on the surface of the soil in a new country is devoured by the flames. The top soil with all that it contains is turned into ashes. For two or three years good crops may follow because of the abundance of ashes lying over the soil, but the stimulating effect of these is soon lost. The area thus burned over will not recover what it lost by such a conflagration in a score of years, or in a period much longer.”