<YJ:AKI.\<; IJrsn LANHS IN I5urrisn ( \i.r MP.IA. 



15 



Tliis compacts the piles and leaves the larger trees 011 the top, where they have 

 the best chance to dry out and burn, but be careful not to leave them lying across 

 the piles, and always limb them and cut them into -two or .three lengths, so that they 

 lie close and snug. 



Do not chop anything after August 1st at the latest, except willows, etc., in 

 October, but a week or two before burning take a light scythe and mow the ferns 

 which will probably have sprung up between the brush-piles. These dry out in a 

 few days and help the fires to run. The clearing will now be in first-class order for 

 a good burn. 



WHEN TO BURN. 



In writing these notes on land-clearing I am assuming that the settler is 

 devoting most of his time to his clearing, and am giving him the best times to do 

 each kind of work, but the only time which is absolutely essential to keep to is 



Chopped and burnt. Ready to " seed down " and " brand up." 



the burning, which must be done about the latter half of August if at all possible. 

 If the settler wants to work out he can do his chopping any time between March 1st 

 and August 1st, and unless he intends to work on his place all winter he will probably 

 find that he will chop in two or two and one-half months as much as he can con- 

 veniently finish up the following winter. The average man on the average bush 

 land should chop and pile 10 to 15 acres in that time, which will give him a lirst- 

 class start the following year in either poultry or small fruits, or even dairying in 

 a small way, though it would hardly be advisable to try to stump and plough more 

 than 4 or 5 acres for two or even three years after. By that time, if he continues 

 this course, he will have made a very big hole in the bush of his 20- or 40-acre 

 farm. 



When the proper time to burn arrives the greatest care should be exercised to 

 prevent the tires running over adjoining property, no matter whether there is mer- 

 chant aide timber or not. Millions of dollars are lost on this continent every year 

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