84 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



utilization is impossible, unless combined with a pulp operation. It wUl 

 be seen that the adoption of a 3 -inch diameter limit for lopping on pulp 

 operations would place a distinct premium on close utilization. 



The difficulty of administering the top-lopping law, under a 2 or 3 

 inch diameter limit, introduces the matter of judgment of the men in 

 the woods. Some of the pulp operators state that they would rather 

 see the law remain as it is, than have this modification made. In some 

 cases the reason is given frankly, that the law in its present form will 

 the more quickly defeat itself through the infliction of apparent hard- 

 ship upon the lumbering interests, thus resulting in the early repeal of 

 the law. In others cases, lumbermen, who are either fully in sympathy 

 with the law, or believe that it has not yet had sufficient time for fair 

 trial, claim that the introduction of a requirement for top-lopping 

 only abov^ a stated diameter limit would result in more trouble and an- 

 noyance and would, in the end, be a greater hardship than the enforce- 

 ment of the present law, which requires the lopping of aU branches 

 from the main stem without regard to size. StUl others favor the change 

 unqualifiedly. 



The modification of the law to provide for top-lopping above a 

 three-inch diameter limit, would relieve the pulpwood operators of pro- 

 bably not less than half, and in some cases two-thirds or more of the 

 additional cost now imposed upon them by the law. The greatest relief 

 would be in connection with the smaller trees brushed out in order to 

 make way for road construction. The branches on small trees below a 

 3-inch diameter limit, as well as the branches on the tops of the larger 

 trees below the same limit, are much smaller, have a greater percentage 

 of sapwood, and will, accordingly, decay much more rapidly, even 

 without lopping, than the old branches lopped from the lower portion 

 of the tree cut for pulp or lumber. This process is facilitated by the 

 heavy snow fall which wiU force to the ground within a few years the 

 relatively small branches comprising the sapling or top below a 3 -inch 

 diameter limit. Undoubtedly the lopping of all branches below a 

 3 -inch diameter limit wiU facilitate more rapid decay ; however, on the 

 other hand, this requirement involves a material extra expense to the 

 operator ; this does not seem to be justifiable in view of the relatively 

 sHght decrease in the fire danger which can take place before the decay 

 of the larger branches from the lower portion of the tree. 



This question would be of importance in Canada, should laws or 

 regulations be proposed, requiring the lopping of tops. In general, 

 it is believed, that, where lopping is considered necessary, such a law 

 or regulation could as a matter of fact be administered with less friction 

 and dissatisfaction under g, 3 -inch diameter limit than where all tops are 

 required to be lopped, regardless of size. 



