Brush Disposal. 523 



By clearing a system of fire lines one chain wide along the prin- 

 cipal ridge tops, thus dividing the area into blocks, broadcast firing 

 could be done safely and cheaply, and the ground would be left 

 in good shape for planting. 



The following figures give the relative cost of the two systems : 



Area of tract, 3,600 acres 



Total stand, 80,000 M. ft. 



Cost of brush piling and burning at 60 cents per j\I, per 

 acre. $13.33, Total, $48,000 



Cost of broadcast burning at 20 cents per M, per acre, 

 $4.44, Total, $16,000 



Saving by broadcast burning per acre, $8.89, . . . .Total, $32,000 

 Cost of planting white pine 8 x 8 ft, per A., $5.22, Total, $18,792 



Net saving after burning and planting, per A., ^$3.67, 

 Total, $13,208 



These figures, if correct, and it is believed that they can be 

 demonstrated, indicate that, if the contract could be amended to 

 permit the company to burn broadcast instead of piling the brush, 

 the stumpage price could be increased sufficiently to amount to 

 $32,000. The sum of $18,792 could then be devoted to planting 

 the area, leaving a net saving of $13,208. We would then have 

 a well spaced, completely stocked plantation of white pine, or 

 whatever species was deemed desirable, instead of a more or 

 less incomplete, natural reproduction of perhaps 25 to 50 per 

 cent, white pine. The weed trees, the hemlocks, white fir and 

 cedars, would all be eliminated, and there would be prospects for 

 a succeeding crop of timber which would have double the value 

 of the mixed, natural stand. A further advantage, which has not 

 been included in the calculation, is the saving of stumpage in the 

 seed trees. In an over-mature stand much of this wfTl be lost by 

 death of the trees before the end of the next rotation, and the 

 amount of the timber left would probably not justify a logging 

 operation before that time. This item would amount to from $2 

 to $4 per acre. The operator would also get the advantage of 

 an increased cut with the same improvement investment, as well 

 as the cheaper cost of logging a clean cut area. 



