TOP-I/OPPING IN THE ADIRONDACKS 65 



er relative effect in decreasing the fire danger, than in case of a pulp 

 operation, where a far larger percentage of the branches will in any 

 event be brought into contact with the groiind, as a necessary part of 

 the operation. 



9. The beneficial effect of top-lopping far outweighs the disadvant- 

 ages due to any possible injury to soil, reproduction or old growth. 



ID. Lopping to only a 3 -inch diameter limit in the^p materially 

 decreases the cost of the operation ; this modification may be justified 

 in sections where the fire danger is not extreme and where cost is a 

 determining consideration.* 



1 1 . The question of brush disposal and of fire prevention in general 

 should be given much more careful attention in Canada by all concerned 

 than has been the case in the past. This is entirely practicable in case 

 of issuance of new Ucenses by Dominion or Provincial Governments, 

 as well as in the case of renewals of existing licenses. 



12. Patrol is the most important and the most essential element 

 in any plan of fire protection. This must be provided, regardless of 

 what other methods are adopted. The construction of roads, trails, 

 telJ|)hone lines, lookout stations, and other permanent improvements of 

 a similar character is essential to an efficient patrol system. 



Discussion 



The arguments for and against the top-lopping law, and the con- 

 clusions resulting from the field trip above referred to, can most ad- 

 vantageously be discussed together. For convenience, this discussion 

 will be divided into four general heads, concerning the effect of the 

 top-lopping law, as to : 



(i) Fire Danger 



(a) Prevention 



(b) Control 



* Since the preparation of this report the L^islature of the State of New York 

 has amended the top-lopping law with relation to the 3-inch diameter limit to read 

 aa follows : 



"Every person who shall, within any of the towns enumerated in 

 section 97 of this chapter except as hereinafter provided, fell, or cause to be 

 felled, or permit to be felled any evergreen trees for sale or other purposes 

 shall lop, or cause to be lopped from the said trees and the limbs thereof, at 

 the time of felling the said trees or at a time to be fixed by the commission 

 as hereinafter provided, all the limbs thereof up to a point where the trunk 

 or branch has a longest diameter which does not exceed three inches, unless 

 the said tree be felled for sale and use with the branches thereon or for use 

 with the limbs thereon." 



