FOREST COMMISSION'KR's RErORT. 99 



I'apcr birch is usually not a large tree, and the base is seldom 

 very swell-butted, so that stumps could, in most cases, very 

 readily be cut to a height of i foot ; this would gain from half 

 a foot to a foot of good material. In chopping, another half 

 foot or more is wasted in the scarf, and could be saved by sub- 

 stituting sawing for chopping. The saving in the butt log 

 through both of these means would average bout 5 per cent in 

 the largest and best part of the bole, and would also mean that 

 frequently another bolt could be secured from the top. 



A further saving could in many cases be effected in the top 

 itself. For spool stock this should be utilized down to a diam- 

 eter of 4 inches, except where numerous branches make this 

 obviously impossible. In some cases this is already done, but 

 in many others a large part of the top is wasted because there 

 is a fork, or one or two large branches, above which there is 

 still merchantable material. Not infrequently a tree forks 

 about halfway up. and the good material above can be utilized 

 simply by cutting out the crotch. The saving effected would 

 vary greatly, from about 5 to more than 50 per cent, but would 

 probably average about 20 per cent. Large branches which are 

 now sometimes rejected could be made use of in the same way. 



Whether that portion of the top which remains after the 

 merchantable spool stock has been taken out should be used 

 for fuel depends chiefly upon the locality. When the cutting 

 is near a railroad or settlement it can be so used, but when it 

 is more or less remote this is imi)racticable, and the tops must 

 simply be left upon the ground. The whole question is simply 

 one of dollars and cents — will it pay? 



The cutting of young trees for fuel down to 3 inches in diam- 

 eter is a distinctly bad practice. Such trees are usually grow- 

 ing rapidly and much greater returns can be obtained if they 

 are left until they attain sufficient size for spoolwood, and cut 

 to a minimum diameter of 6 inches. The tops can then be 

 utilized for fuel and will probably yield nearly as much as the 

 entire tree if it had been cut when only 3 inches in diameter. 

 Immature, healthy trees should not be cut to a diameter of less 

 than 6 inches for any purpose. 



In connection with the utilization of material now wasted, 

 the question arises whether the tops and the waste produced at 

 the mill, such as slabs, edgings, and heart, could not be used for 

 the manufacture of wood alcohol, acetic acid, and charcoal. 



