110 Second Annual Kepoet of the 



operations where large tops were left unlopped, the branches on 

 the under side of the top have rotted away as they came in 

 contact with the soil until the main stem of the top has become 

 flat upon the ground, but even now all the branches on the upper 

 side of this stem are still in an excellent condition for burning. 



The thoroughness with which the top-lopping has been done has 

 to a large extent affected the rapidity of decay. On operations 

 where care has been taken to get this brush on the ground, the 

 latter condition has been the better. 



As near as could be determined from our inspections, we 

 reached the conclusion that the average top as now lopped would 

 decay and have practically disappeared as a Are danger in ap- 

 proximately seven years, while it would take the same top fifteen 

 years to decay and disappear if unlopped. 



The rate of decay will depend upon local conditions. It will 

 be greater where the underbrush is dense and on the north and 

 east slopes. It will be slower where there is less shade and 

 more sun and also when the tops are rich in pitch. 



Objection 5. That unlopped tops cast more shade on the 

 ground. It is self-evident that where tops are lopped the effect 

 of the whole of every branch is felt in casting shade, while in 

 the case of an unlopped top there are at least half of the branches 

 which cast a very much foreshortened shadow, due to the fact that 

 they are upright instead of lying flat on the ground. Therefore, 

 the aggregate amount of shade from an unlopped top could not 

 possibly be as great as that from the same branches lopped and 

 lying on the ground. 



Objection 6. That lopped tops do not cause moister soil con- 

 ditions. The moisture conditions are very much bettered by 

 lopping because: 



First. — As has just been brought out, they benefit through 

 the casting of the maximum of shade. 



Second. — The branches scattered around on the ground serve 

 as a great hindrance to evaporation and also to air currents com- 

 ing in contact with the soil, thereby greatly decreasing evapora- 

 tion. 



Third. — • The extreme moisture conditions of the spring are 

 retained for a much longer period, thus shortening the dry fire 



