THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST 95 



forming leaves and twigs are destroyed just when most 

 needed, for another good crop of leaves cannot be expected for 

 many years. 



"The added cost, both to the lumberman and to the Gov- 

 ernment, is another argument against brush burning. The 

 cost of piling brush has varied all the way from 15 cents 

 to $1 or more per thousand, with an average of 40 or 50 

 cents, while the cost of burning may be from 5 cents to 25 

 cents per thousand, averaging about 15 cents. By abandoning 

 the practice of brush piling this 60 cents a thousand will not 

 be entirely saved, as is claimed by some, for the brush will 

 still have to be lopped and disposed of in some other way, 

 which will cost, it is estimated, at least half as much as piling 

 and burning. But even a saving of 25 or 30 cents a thousand 

 is a strong argument against the practice. 



"Thus, from a silvicultural viewpoint, the disadvantages of 

 brush burning far outweigh its advantages. Yet, as a general 

 policy, it seems unwise, until other methods have proved 

 their efficiency, to abandon brush piling and burning to any 

 great extent at present. The fire danger is a known quality, 

 and, though it is being reduced each year, it is still a menace. 

 Therefore changes from the present practice should be made 

 with caution. Brush piling and burning is certainly not ad- 

 visable in all cases, and extensive experiments should be made 

 to determine what is the best method of brush disposal for 

 the different types and conditions. 



"Brush Piling and Burning 



"The cost of piling varies with the cost of labor, the meth- 

 ods of logging, the type, the topography, the kind of trees 

 cut, and the time of the year it is done. A few figures will 

 illustrate this variation. In the yellow pine type in Montana 

 an addition to the swampers' wages of 15 cents a thousand 

 would, it is said, enable them to pile the brush, as they have 

 to handle it anyway. Usually, however, the piling is done by a 

 separate crew. Much of the work is thus duplicated. In 



