METHODS OF SLASH DISPOSAL 223 



If the piles are small and well built they may burn com- 

 pletely without any attention after lighting. Otherwise the 

 partially consumed piles must be visited while still burning 

 and " chunked up" by having the unconsumed brush around 

 the edges thrown onto the fire. 



(b) Burning as the Logging Proceeds. Fires are started 

 upon which the slash is thrown. The piling and burning is 

 thus accomplished in one operation. 



This method is the most economical from the standpoint 

 of the lumberman and the forester. The work of piling and 

 burning is done in conjunction with the removal of the tim- 

 ber. The felling crews may do the work or special men may 

 be assigned to the duty. Fires should be started in openings 

 away from reproduction and young trees. When a tree is 

 limbed out the branches are thrown directly upon the fire, 

 and do not have to be cut up so small as when placed in 

 piles. 



The actual cost of burning the brush is likely to be reduced 

 when conducted in this manner. This method is preferable 

 to piling and burning in a separate operation, but can be 

 employed only under climatic conditions favorable to safe 

 burning. When the logging is done in the hot dry seasons 

 of the year piling and burning later is the alternative. 



Disposal of Slash by Broadcast Burning. In broadcast 

 burning fires are started and allowed to burn over the area 

 occupied by slash. It is a cheap method of disposal for it re- 

 quires no piling and very little handling of the slash. Around 

 the edges of the cutover area firelines should be cleared of 

 slash and other inflammable material. If the area is exten- 

 sive interior fire lines may be needed dividing the area into 

 blocks. How large these blocks should be will depend on the 

 conditions in each case, among which amount and inflamma- 

 bility of the slash and the difficulties of controlling the fire are 



