143 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



The secret of the success of slash disposal in this case is: 



(1) The recognition of slash disposal as a part of the logging oper- 

 ation. 



(2) Close utilization. 



(3) Efficient methods. 



(4) Cooperation on the part of the men. 



The manager in charge of the operation puts the last first, for, as he 

 points out, unless those who do the work are wilHng to give it a fair 

 trial it is useless to expect satisfactory results. He stated that his 

 greatest difficulty had been to overcome the ingrained prejudice of the 

 men toward the idea of slash disposal, but that once the foremen had 

 been won over and their cooperation secured, the work had proceeded 

 smoothly and satisfactorily. 



But it is also fundamental that slash disposal be recognized as a 

 part of the logging operation for handled separately it is expensive 

 and often impracticable. In the operation under consideration, how- 

 ever, it has been found not only to be practical, but to more than pay 

 for itself, (a) in reduced skidding costs, (b) in the saving of horse 

 flesh, and (c) in logs otherwise overlooked and left in the woods. In 

 support of the above the logging boss is authority for the statement 

 that where, under ordinary logging methods, two swampers are re- 

 quired to a team only one is needed" where the brush is piled, while 

 often one can do the work for two teams. This saving alone, it is 

 claimed, offsets the increased cost of cutting and trimming, with which 

 operation brush piling has been combined. The saving under (b) and 

 (c) has not been figured out, but is said to be considerable. Other 

 reasons given for making slash disposal a part of the logging operation 

 are that the additional trimming necessary can be done at minimum 

 expense at the time the rest of the tree is lopped ; that the brush can 

 be handled best when green and cheapest when first taken from the 

 tree ; and that rehandling is avoided and the brush is gotten out of the 

 way of the sawyers and skidders. 



Close utilization, also, contributes materially to the success of slash 

 disposal by reducing the additional trimming necessary to a minimum 

 and eliminating much of the heavier logging refuse. But, on the other 

 hand, slash disposal contributes to closer utilization, for where tops 

 are closely trimmed and the brush is piled much merchantable material 

 is salvaged that would otherwise be left in the woods. 



