Controlled burning 



Brush and plant debris can be re- 

 moved periodically by "controlled burn- 

 ing" or "prescribed burning." These 

 terms mean carefully planned and executed 

 use of fire. 



No area should be burned more often 

 than once every third year. The best 

 time for burning is January or February, 

 never during the spring nesting season. 

 Controlled burning permits growth of 

 succulent vegetation and better feeding. 



For safe burning you must have (1) 

 adequate fire lanes and (2) the correct 

 moisture conditions. Be sure you com- 

 ply with local fire regulations. Always 

 notify the nearest fire tower and obtain 

 help from experienced persons such as 

 fire wardens, forestry personnel, or man- 

 agers who know how to burn safely. 



Conditions for burning are usually 

 best a day or two after a good rain. It 

 is safest to burn when (1) the pine 

 needles, leaves, and grass can be burned 

 at midday but are too wet to burn in 

 early morning and late evening and (2) 

 the wind direction is expected to remain 

 the same for the 4 or 5 hours of burning. 

 A north wind is most dependable. These 

 conditions can be predicted only a few 

 hours in advance — by your fire warden 

 and weather bureau. 



The fire is started on the downwind 



side of the area to be burned, along a 

 fire lane or road. The fire-setters then ig- 

 nite the "sides," and then the upwind 

 edge. This completes the burning of the 

 whole area in the least time and before 

 the dampness of evening prevents fur- 

 ther burning. A proper burn removes 

 most of the ground litter but leaves un- 

 burned the thin layer of mulch that is in 

 contact with the wet soil and therefore 

 too wet to burn. The mulch prevents 

 soil erosion. 



Brush control 



A mixture of one part 2,4, 5-T to 20 

 parts of fuel oil is a practical way to re- 

 move unwanted brush and trees when ap- 

 plied in late May or early June. Place the 

 solution in frill cuts at the base of the 

 trees to be killed. Where abandoned fields 

 and orchards grow up to such trees as 

 black locust or sassafras, spray 2,4, 5-T 

 mixed in fuel oil on the trunk and stems 

 during the winter months. Airplane 

 spraying is not practical, because desir- 

 able food trees will be destroyed. 



With the removal of the trees, such 

 plants as bluegrass, bromegrass, orchard- 

 grass, and various legumes usually volun- 

 teer the following spring from seeds 

 lying in the soil. If choice food plants 

 do not appear after the trees have been 

 killed or removed, you can stir the leaf 

 litter with a spring-toothed cultivator or 

 burn it off; then seed with ryegrass, clo- 

 vers, orchardgrass, bahiagrass, or what- 

 ever species is best adapted to the soils 

 of the area. 



Caution: If you use pesticides, apply 

 them only when needed and handle 

 them with care. Follow the directions 

 and heed all precautions on the con- 

 tainer label. If pesticides are not han- 

 dled or applied properly, or if unused 

 portions are disposed of improperly, 

 they may be injurious to humans, do- 

 mestic animals, desirable plants, honey 

 bees and other pollinating insects, 

 fish, or wildlife, and they may con- 

 taminate water supplies. 



R2-265 



useful in main- 



Controlled burning is 



taining good turkey range 



Thinning trees 



Logging and other timber-cutting op- 

 erations can be planned to create scattered 

 openings in woodlands where choice 



