SELECTING THE METHOD 233 



In the final choice of a method for treating the slash a com- 

 promise must be struck between conflicting viewpoints, in 

 such a way as to produce the most favorable total effect. In 

 arriving at this decision the factor of cost and the character 

 of other control or remedial measures, which will be under- 

 taken against injurious agencies, must be considered. Since 

 silviculture aims at the highest production not only quantita- 

 tively, but financially, it follows that cost must always be 

 kept in mind. 



The cost of slash disposal may be figured either on an acre- 

 age basis or by the thousand feet board measure of timber 

 cut. In the final analysis the cost should be expressed on 

 the acreage basis. When broadcast burning is used the total 

 cost per acre is nearly independent of the amount of timber 

 cut per acre, while in other methods of disposal the cost per 

 acre is in proportion to the amount of timber cut. Since the 

 amount of timber cut per acre varies from less than one 

 thousand to over one hundred thousand feet board measure, 

 costs of slash disposal (except in the case of broadcast burn- 

 ing) for comparative purposes are commonly expressed on the 

 thousand board feet unit basis. This allows of ready change 

 to per acre figures when the amount cut per acre is known. 



The cost of slash disposal per thousand feet board measure 

 is greater for trees with heavy crowns, than for light crowned 

 trees, for small as contrasted with large trees, when the cut 

 per acre is light as compared with a heavy cut and on rough 

 ground than on smooth ground. 



It is evident that there will be a wide range in the cost of 

 slash disposal due to the factors already mentioned. 



In general the cost of slash disposal should range from one 

 or two cents to a dollar per thousand feet board measure of 

 timber cut. The minimum figures would be attainable only 

 under the broadcast burning method with a cut of fifty to 



