BRUSH DISPOSAL PROBLEM 43 



previously issued, there may be some difference of opinion, but the at- 

 titude here should be that stumpage values are constantlj- increasing, 

 that the Government should get the benefit of a reasonable proportion 

 of this increment, thus necessitatir^ periodical readjtistaients of the 

 purchase price, and that restrictions upon the method of cutting in 

 order to perpetuate the forest as such, are a part of such price, winch 

 must be taken fuUy into consideration in determining the cash payments. 



Disposal of Conifers and Hardwoods. — ^Brush disposal as a fire-pre- 

 ventive measure is generally considered at the present time only in 

 coimection with coniferous or so-called evergreen species, — the spruces, 

 firs, pines, hemlock, etc. — as contrasted with the so-called hardwoods or 

 broad-leaved species, such as the maples, beech, birch, etc. Coniferous 

 species are found almost exclusively in the West. In the Northeastern 

 United States and Eastern Canada the principal species being cut on a 

 large scale are also conifers. The hardwoods rot much more quickly 

 than do the conifers, so that the debris disappears by decay in a much 

 shorter time. Further, the danger of fire in a hardwood glagliing is in 

 no way comparable at any time to the danger in a coniferous slashing. 

 It should also be borne in mind that in a hardwood forest, the fire danger 

 is due to the leaf litter rather than to the tops, thougjh the tops may 

 increase the severity of a fire once it is started. 



Loppii^ the tops in hardwoods will not minimize the danger of a 

 leaf fire, although it may possibly do so if the trees are cut in full leaf 

 in the late summer or early fall. If such a leaf fire gets started in hard- 

 woods it is in any event almost certain to Idll any reproduction in its way. 

 A further point is the fact that under present conditions the stumpage 

 values of hardwood species are generally too low to justify the extra 

 expenditure that would be involved in any plan of bnish. disposal. 

 Many large areas of hardwoods can not be operated even now, without 

 any expense of this kind, and undoubtedly the imposition of such a 

 requirement would not only delay the day when such tracts can be oper- 

 ated, but would convert into a loss, or at least very materially reduce, 

 the profits on hardwood operations which are now being carried on in 

 portions of the eastern United States and Canada. Where cordwood 

 is taken out as a part of the hardwood operation, the need for consider- 

 ing brush disposal is very greatly reduced, entirely aside from the 

 financial consideration. 



However, as hardwood stumpage increases in value, more intensive 

 methods will become practicable in fire prevention, through the better 

 disposal of hardwood brush. The depletion of the timber resources 

 of the country is rapidly hastening the day. Such action is even now 

 possible under the most favourable conditions. The most ^icouraging 

 illustraticii in this respect is the recent sale of the standing merchantable 



