240 



FORESTRY IN NEW ENGLAND 



forest and drive the logs to them than to have the mills within 

 the forest and ship out the manufactured product. 



In portions of the forest close to a drivable stream it is possible 

 to yard the logs directly to the stream bank, but on the land 

 further back it is necessary to haul from the various skidways to 

 the stream. These skidways are always located on the main 

 hauling roads, which are laid out very carefully, so as to give 

 a continuous level or down-grade haul to the stream. They 



Fig. 86. — Old field spruce type. Stand 5 years after thinning. W here the cutting 

 was heavy a thick growth of berry bushes sprang up preventing the reproduction of 

 softwoods. 



are carefully cleared and graded, but not surfaced, as the haul- 

 ing is to be done on the snow. When the winter's snow comes, 

 these roads are broken out and iced (sprinkled with water, 

 which freezes), giving a smooth, hard surface on which large 

 loads of logs can be hauled by a single team of horses. The 

 hauling is done on double-truck sleds, and is known as "two- 

 sledding." 



The logs are landed on the bank or the icy floor of the stream, 

 to remain until the ice breaks up in the spring, when they are 

 "driven " down to the mills. Out of every little drivable stream 



