44 PRACTICAL FORESTRY IN 



Slash Burning and Its Exceptions. 



In most cases this requires burning the ground after log- 

 ging, not only to reduce the future fire risk but also to pro- 

 vide a suitable seedbed. Fir much prefers mineral soil to 

 start in, as is easily seen from the far greater frequency of. 

 seedlings on road grades than on adjacent undisturbed 

 ground covered with humus and rotten wood. Hemlock has 

 no such fastidiousness., even preferring rotten wood as a seed- 

 bed. To protect the slashing from fire, therefore, both pre- 

 serves the most unfavorable conditions for fir and subjects it to 

 unnecessary competition by its rival. Hemlock seedlings 

 already established, seeds lying on the ground, and surround- 

 ing or surviving trees which may scatter more seed, are all 

 encouraged to shade and stifle the struggling fir seedlings 

 already handicapped by dislike for their situation. 



On the other hand, a large proportion of what we now con- 

 sider typically fir forest has a vigorous ground cover of hem- 

 lock and cedar which may become merchantable many years 

 before an entirely new fir crop can be grown. The presumably 

 greater value of the latter may be consumed by the heavier 

 carrying charge before returns are available. Certainly if the 

 promise of profit from other species and the difficulty of 

 establishing fir both reach the extreme, protection of the 

 growth already started is the best forestry if it is prac- 

 ticable. Moreover, there may be considerable young growth 

 of other species under conditions which do not preclude satis- 

 factory additional reseeding by fir. 



When the owner is in position to plan far into the future, 

 like the Government or State, he may seek a temporary com- 

 promise, although expecting eventually to secure pure fir. In 

 such a case it may often be best to utilize a first new crop of 

 hemlock, but on harvesting this a few decades hence to burn 

 clean and start the next rotation with fir only. 



