PRACTICAL FORESTRY IN NEW BRUNSWICK. 19 



low stump-i. taking the timber as far uj) into the tops as possible, 

 and the use of interior species for skids and roads. The majority 

 of these points are incl ided in leases for lumber on Crown lands, 

 and private companies are going a little bit further in their re- 

 quirements for clean logging. The New Brunswick Railway 

 Company limits the catting of spruce to trees above 14 inches in 

 diameter at the stump, snow being shoveled away from the tree 

 if necessary to insure low stumps. Smaller spruce can be cut for 

 roads, yards and landings when necessary and by special permis- 

 sion and also in making thinnings in thicket growth . Any iinder- 

 sized spruce trees cut contrary to the contract are to be charged 

 up to the lessee at the rat« of $1 . 00 per tree. While no top 

 diaiiieter is specified "all logs are to ])e run well up int i the limbs 

 before cutting off the top end. so that no saleable timber shall be 

 left m the woods." If this contract contained a clause about the 

 disposal of brush either by lopping or burning it would not differ 

 materially from the provisions the forester would insert for care- 

 ful and economical logging. To enforce these regulations requires 

 tact and constant watchfulness on the i)art of the woods superin- 

 tendents, but they are certainly worth while, and good operators 

 are given inducements for careful work. In the thinning out of 

 thicket growth where th(^ timber is small they give the operator 

 who is careful 12, 14, 16, 18 and even 20 hundred feet of lumber 

 for 1000 fett charged, meaning that in the latter case he gets his 

 lumber at half price or 2000 feet for 1000. The decision is left to 

 the scaler in this case as well as many others where the regula- 

 tions enforced to the letter might work a hardship to the oi)erator. 

 In the case of cedar or hemlock, for example, it would be foolish 

 to require low stumps when the butt of the tree was rotten or 

 shaky. Care for young growth is another thing mentioned in the 

 contract, which is a wise provision. 



DISPOSAL OF BRUSH AND SLASH. 



It is often said that the loss by fiie in many places has been 

 equal to timber cut. It is obviously then in the interests of 

 forestry to dispose of brush and slash left after lumbering, as the 

 severity of forest tires is in direct proportion to the amount of 

 debris on the groiind. The usual methods elsewhere are. the 

 lopping of tops so they will lie flat on the ground and rot more 



