MASSACHUSETTS WOODLANDS. 21 



In stands 50 per cent, or more of moth-resistant character prac- 

 tically all non-resistant trees should be removed. No white oaks, 

 and not more than 10 per cent, of other oaks, should be left unless 

 the owner is prepared to use other methods of moth control. 



In stands which contain not over 10 to 20 per cent, oak, and the 

 rest pine, a thinning out of all oak is especially important. It 

 has been uniformly observed that in such stands the damage to the 

 pine is greatest. All oak undergrowth should be removed also. 



In pure or nearly pure gray birch a thinning is unprofitable and 

 unadvisable unless the birch is large enough and the market good 

 enough to make a clear cutting pay for itself. In stands where 

 there is a large amount of young pine mixed with the gray birch 

 a cutting out of all birch would seem advisable, even if made at 

 a small present financial loss. 



BRUSH DISPOSAL. 



The disposal of the brush and slashings is a large problem in con- 

 nection with this work. The following are several general rules 

 which have been formulated in the work this department has under- 

 taken and supervised : 



Cutting of Brush and Undergrowth. 



1. The cutting of brush is a net expense, and where financial 

 considerations enter largely as little as possible should be done. 



2. In park or ornamental woodland, or where spraying or creo- 

 soting are to follow the cutting, it is usually advisable to cut prac- 

 tically all the underbrush. Care should be taken, however, not to 

 cut valuable young reproduction, as pine, maple, ash, etc., or valu- 

 able flowering shrubs, as flowering dogwood, Vibernum lantanoides, 

 laurel, etc. 



3. In ordinary woodland only " non-resistant " brush and repro- 

 duction should be cut, such as scrub oak, oak, birch, shadbush and 

 witch-hazel. 



Burning of Brush and Slashing. 



1. In park or ornamental woodland; where planting is to follow 

 the cutting; where other measures of moth control are to follow 

 the cutting ; where there is any aesthetic value to the woodland ; and 

 where the fire danger is considerable, all brush and slashing should 

 be burned. 



2. Along roads, rights of way and boundary lines the brush 

 should be burned. 



