21 



(5) Xo timber of large dimensions should be raised under sprout 

 numagement, because stumps of large trees fail to sprout and the 

 timber itself is likel}^ to be defective. The black and red oaks, 

 although more able to produce vigorous sprouts from large stumps 

 than white oak, are subject to defect and should be cut, together with 

 white oak, not later than at the age of from 55 to GO years; the same 

 age limit should be applied to the chestnut. 



(0) Sprout timber should be cut either in winter or before the buds 

 open in early spring, and the timber should be removed at once. If 

 it is removed later the young sprouts that come up from the stump 

 will be injured. 



(7) Stumps should be cut low" and smooth. 



(8) Sprouts should be protected from fire and grazing. 



PROTECTION. 



Protection against fire is essential to conservative forest manage- 

 ment in the Southern Appalachians. Yet at present but little effort 

 is made to keep fire out of the forest. The result is, on virgin land, a 

 large loss from decay and unsoundness of mature timber, and, on 

 second-growth lands, an even more serious loss from the absolute 

 failure of second growth, or, at best, marked delay in getting it 

 established. Even when a start is finally made the growth is much 

 less dense and contains a much larger proportion of worthless species 

 than on land from which fire has been kept out. 



Except when the virgin forest contains dense young stands of valu- 

 able species, the need of protection and the results gained from it are 

 greater in the second growth. In time all timberlands should be 

 protected from fire, but for the present, at least, the second growth 

 should receive chief attention. 



It is impossible to outline a system of fire protection which would 

 apply to the region as a whole. To be practicable and efficient a 

 scheme of protection must be perfectl}^ adapted to local conditions, 

 such as topography, character of oAvnership, nearness to settlements, 

 and attitude of the people. The general policy in any plan, however, 

 should be to enforce strictly the fire and stock laws of the region and 

 at the same time to cultivate the friendship and good will of the resi- 

 dent population. The people should be educated to respect the rights 

 of the timberland owner and should be brought to see that the pre- 

 vention of forest fires and of unrestricted grazing is for the best 

 interests of all. Many clearings, from 50 to 100 acres in extent, are 

 scattered through the timbered area of the region. It would be a 

 great advantage to the timberland owners to secure control of these 

 little mountain farms and lease them to trustworthy tenants who 



[Cir. 118.] 



