DISPOSAIv OF INFECTED SLASH 49 



cayed area was greatest in that portion of the log in contact with the 

 ground. It will be noticed that stumps and roots of stumps are com- 

 monly found with sporophores upon them. This emphasizes the rela- 

 tion of infected slash to the soil moisture, and the resulting effect upon 

 fungous activity and the production of sporophores. 



THE DISPOSAL OF INFECTED SLASH ON SALE AREAS 



Discussion of Methods 



Under the present practice of forest management, a portion of the 

 slash is always removed from the cut-over area by the operation of 

 brush disposal. Brush disposal in the Northwestern forest region 

 consists mainly of piling and burning the debris, not to exceed 4 inches 

 in diameter, left by the swampers in trimming a felled tree. This 

 operation is carried on principally for the purpose of reducing the fire 

 hazard to a minimum. Incidentally it removes a certain amount of 

 the larger slash which occasionally is burned with the brush. It is 

 also used to kill undesirable trees or trees of inferior species, by piling 

 the brush at the bases of such trees. In this manner many are killed, 

 and reseeding of the area to these undesirables is reduced. 



The problem here presented is concerned with the slash scattered 

 upon the area which is not piled and burned and is thus left, not only 

 as a future fire menace, but also a menace to the health of the remain- 

 ing stand if sporophores of wood-destroying fungi are developed upon 

 it. It concerns principally such infested slash of a size larger than is 

 usually burned as brush. 



The data show that considerable numbers of sporophores of the 

 more harmful species of fungi are found developing on a great 

 variety of slash left on logged-ofif areas and these fruit bodies are 

 capable of shedding an immense number of spores during their growing 

 season," ". The majority of sale areas contain and are surrounded by 

 valuable trees susceptible to fungous infection. Distance is no obstacle 

 to the transmission of spores from points within a clean-cut area to 

 the edges of the cutting, for the air currents are capable of carrying 

 these spores many miles. Reproduction, whether natural »or artificial, 

 should be protected and can not be if fungous enemies are allowed to 

 develop, first, upon the infected slash, and second, upon surrounding 

 living trees. It is evident, then, that slash left upon a sale area is 

 a menace to the successful practice of forestry in the following ways : 

 As a fire menace, and as a disease infection menace. 



It is realized that economic conditions enter as a very important 

 factor in determining control methods which would in some cases call 



