226 SLASH DISPOSAL 



in all cases. Where careful scattering of the slash is included 

 following the lopping the cost is likely to be higher than piling 

 and burning. The cheapest lopping involves no scattering 

 of the slash. 



The lopping method improves soil conditions by allowing 

 the tops to decay and increase the humus content and acts 

 mechanically to prevent erosion. Skidding the logs is made 

 easier and cheaper where the slash is cut into small pieces 

 and hence easily moved. A tendency toward closer utiliza- 

 tion is developed, because where the bole must be trimmed 

 of branches up to a small diameter limit in the lopping the 

 operator is likely to use more of the bole than he otherwise 

 would. Fire fighting is easier in lopped than in unlopped 

 slash because of the ease and speed with which the former 

 can be handled. 



A strong disadvantage is the fact that until the lopped tops 

 decay a serious fire hazard may exist. 8 The length of time 

 necessary for the tops to absorb moisture or decay sufficiently 

 to cease being a fire hazard varies with the climatic conditions, 

 the amount of the lopped material, and its position with 

 respect to contact with the ground. 



Disposal of Slash by Pulling the Tops. Pulling the tops 

 consists in dragging the entire unutilized tops of the trees to 

 positions on the area different from those occupied by the 

 tops when the trees were felled. The operation is accom- 

 plished by hitching one or more animals to each top. Tops 

 are dragged in cases where they lie in dangerous proximity to 

 standing trees or reproduction or else where they are needed 

 to cover spots likely to be eroded such as gullies or slopes. 

 In some cases the tops are of assistance to reproduction by 

 affording either slight shade, the desired seedbed or protection 

 from the trampling or browsing of animals whom the tops 

 keep off. The pulled tops because of standing relatively high 



