20 JOURNAL O}^ FORESTRY 



from hardwood growth except in areas where the humus is deep and 

 has dried out severely after the burning. Areas burned but once are 

 recovering by growth of aspen which will have some commercial value 

 and which later may be under-planted to advantage. Other hardwoods, 

 especially yellow birch, will form a part of this stand, especially if the 

 cutting preceded the fire by several years, so that saplings with ability 

 to sprout were present. 



SI.ASH DISPOSAL 



The removal of hardwoods will result, of course, in a very large -ac- 

 cumulation of slash, largely valueless at the present time. It is very 

 desirable that the slash be disposed of both as a preventive of fire 

 and in preparation for a new stand. Such facts as we have are not 

 sufficient to justify us in saying that any one method of disposal is 

 satisfactory today. Experimental work to determine right methods of 

 disposal should be begun at once, especially in trying out the use of 

 fire, which we understand is now being used experimentally in New 

 Brunswick. Grazing should be given careful trial under different con- 

 ditions in the Adirondacks, as, without doubt, it has considerable 

 value in hardwood slash disposal. 



A SURVEY OF FOREST LANDS, AND FORESTS NEEDED 



Repeatedly, since the early development of the College of Forestry 

 in 193 2 it has been urged by the college that the State take stock of its 

 forest land and forest resources.* In this time of agitation for a forest 

 policy for the Nation and the State, it is imperative that we know 

 what we have as essential forest land. Studies should be planned and 

 carried out in such a way as to prevent duplication of such efforts and 

 arrangements should be made to publish results so that all may have 

 the advantage of such data. Studies of soil, forests, and forest types 

 must be carried out. based on sound silvicultural principles. Only 

 after such studies have been made for New York can we formulate an 

 effective forest policy. Such studies of forest lands and forests cannot 

 be carried out along the lines of the soil surveys made by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture. There must be injected into such 

 studies the idea of sound economic practice. That is, a study of the 

 chemical and physical properties of the soil only will not give the 

 desired results. 



* Logging to a Fixed Diameter Limit in the Adirondack Forest. Hugh P. 

 Baker. Proceedings of the Empire State Forest Products Association, Decem- 

 ber, 1915. 



