46 WORKING PLAN FOR FOREST LANDS NEAR PINE BLUFF, ARK. 

 CUTTING LIMIT FOR THE HARDWOODS OF THE BOTTOM LANDS. 



In the hardwood bottoms the cutting- limit should be placed at 20 

 inches. Although no study of the rate of growth in these bottoms 

 was made, it seems probable from the composition of the stand that 

 if such a cutting limit be adopted a second cut can be obtained when 

 the pine lands are lumbered again. 



Every opportunity should be taken advantage of to cut and utilize 

 the hardwoods of the pine lands, even at a very small profit. 



HEIGHT OF STUMPS. 



Stumps should not be cut higher than 18 inches, and all trees below 

 18 inches on the stump should be cut 12 inches from the ground. 



At the present time stumps are being cut at an average height of 18 

 inches from the ground, and this rule appears to be fairly satisfactory. 

 No trees below 18 inches in diameter on the stump are now cut, but 

 probably no difficulty would be met with in getting the sawyers to cut 

 the small trees (below 18 inches) at 12 inches from the ground. 



Logs should also be cut as high up into the crowns as conditions 

 will allow. 



PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE. 



The principal difficulty in the way of adopting a good system of fire 

 protection is the broken character of the company's holdings. If the 

 tract were in one solid block the matter would be much simplified. 

 Cut up as it is at present by farms and private wood lots, the sources 

 of danger from tire are greatly multiplied, because tires purposely set 

 on these holdings are never watched or controlled, and as a general 

 thing quickly spread. 



The forest would prosper most if the whole tract could be protected 

 from tire. On account of the difficulties just mentioned, however, 

 such a course would in all probability be impracticable at the present 

 time. The most urgent need at present is a thorough system of pro- 

 tection for the cut-over lands. This is entirely practicable and should 

 by all means be adopted. After the opening of the forest the young- 

 growth will quickly develop on these lumbered areas, and it is of the 

 greatest importance that it be given every possible chance for rapid 

 growth and that the reproduction of the pine be effectively protected 

 in every way. The tops of felled trees are a source of great danger and 

 should be burned as soon as thev are drv enough to burn readily, at a 

 time w y hen the forest floor is clamp and there is no danger of the tire 

 spreading. It is probable that the cheapest and most effective way of 

 disposing of the tops will be to skid them into piles and then to burn 

 as many together as can conveniently be skidded to one point. 



Fire protection would cost about $500 per year for the first few 

 years. This would pay the salary of one man. who should have entire 

 charge of burning the tops and at the same time act as a fire guard 



