28 BULLETIN 1496, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
These are the costs in actual operations in average stands of white, 
Norway, and jack pine. In heavy stands of tall, clear timber the cost 
is less. In scattering stands of shorter timber with heavy tops the 
‘cost is naturally greater. 
Progressive burning in the pine forests is considered a practical 
and most inexpensive method for the operator. The slash is burned 
at the time when there is no fire danger. The damage that is done 
to the remaining timber and the area covered by the fires is reduced 
to a minimum, and the forest is left in good condition for a future 
crop. The cost of burning slash should range from 75 cents to $1 a 
thousand board feet on any job that is handled in a workmanlike 
manner, and if this cost is further credited with the saving in skid- 
ding it may be reduced to as low as 35 cents a thousand. (PI. 3, C.) 
IN SPRUCH AND BALSAM FIR FORESTS 
Careful experiments as to method and cost of slash disposal * were 
conducted in Manitoba in spruce and balsam fir forests, very similar 
to those in northern Minnesota. The method employed was in some 
instances burning at the time of skidding, and in others burning 
immediately after felling and before skidding. 
In one experiment it was found that when the slash was burned at 
the time of logging, but while skidding was going on, the cost of 
swamping, skidding, and slash burning was $2.41 a thousand board 
feet, whereas swamping and skidding alone without slash burning 
was $2.07. In other words, the burning of slash added 34 cents a 
thousand feet board measure to the cost of logging. 
In another experiment where the slash was burned before skidding, 
the cost of swamping, skidding, and slash burning was $1.39, while 
the cost of swamping and skidding alone without slash burning was 
$2.07. In other words, there was an actual saving of 68 cents a 
thousand because of burning the slash. 
In another experiment, conducted in a tie operation, the cost of 
felling, swamping, and skidding without slash burning was 13.3 cents 
a tie or $4.39 a thousand board feet; whereas the cost of felling, 
skidding, and burning the slash immediately following cutting was 
only 11.6 cents a tie, or $3.83 a thousand feet. In other words, slash 
burning reduced the actual cost of felling and skidding by 56 cents a 
thousand feet, a net gain in logging operation. 
Additional data were obtained from nine logging operators, to 
show the variation in cost of slash disposal regardless of the method 
employed. These costs varied from 60 cents to $1.15 a thousand board 
feet, with an average for all nine operators of 80 cents. 
IN OTHER STANDS 
The experience in handling slash in such stands as aspen and 
birch, and in tamarack, spruce, and cedar swamps is extremely 
meager. ‘The policy followed by the Forest Service in aspen stands 
on the Superior National Forest is merely to lop the slash. Tama- 
rack, spruce, cedar, and balsam fir slash is burned progressively, as is 
4 STEVENSON, H. I. SLASH DISPOSAL BY BURNING. The Illustrated Canadian Forest and 
Outdoors. Aug.—Sept., 1924. 
