None of these consumed more than the finer material, twigs of 1/4- inch or 

 less, and as a measure for getting rid of slash it seemed of little use. 

 Furthermore, there are long periods when it would be impossible to burn. 

 However, no controlled experiments of burning had been made and little 

 was known of the desirability of burning as a silvicultural measure. 

 At Kina Cove, near the Maybeso Experimental Forest, large amounts of 

 slash were on the ground and patches of moss and brush formed a possible 

 obstacle to regeneration. What changes in seedbed conditions would 

 occur as a result of a light surface fire? 



The South Tongass National Forest, concerned with the protection of cut- 

 over areas and interested in an opportunity for fire control training, 

 joined the Center in planning the project. They conducted the actual 

 burn for fire control training and timber stand improvement. The loca- 

 tion selected had a logging road and a creek for control on two sides, 

 and a bulldozer line was built on the third side. The fourth side was 

 wet down with gasoline-powered pumps. 



On July 18, 1957 after six rainless days, the slash was considered dry 

 enough to burn. The half-inch fuel moisture sticks read 10 percent by 

 late afternoon. At 4:30 p.m. a pile of slash was ignited at one end of 

 the area and the fire crept slowly through the adjoining logging debris. 

 As the wind rose to 10 miles per hour, the fire picked up and was carried 

 forward at 600 to 1,000 feet per hour. Snags and spotting aided the fire's 

 spread, and it jumped the creek to another slash-covered area. Control 

 was not difficult since the fire went out when it reached green timber. 



Examination of the burned area shows that only the finer material (1/4- 

 inch or less) was consumed. Moss was charred on the blackened areas, 

 but this char did not penetrate more than 1/4-inch. The test shows that 

 such areas will burn, though the burn is not severe. Whether the change 

 in seedbed conditions will benefit regeneration remains to be seen. 

 Endrin-treated seeds of Sitka spruce and western hemlock have been 

 planted on a variety of burned and unburned seedbeds. Gennination and 

 early growth of these seedlings will be followed for several years to 

 determine whether or not the changes in seedbed condition have been 

 beneficial . 



Cull Factors for Southeast Alaska 



Information on cull factors for Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and western 

 redcedar was obtained and Station Paper No. 6— published as a result of 

 Dr. J. W. Kimmey ' s detail from the California Station to Alaska. Most 

 board-foot cull and all cubic-foot cull was found to be due to decayed 

 wood, either brown rot or white rot in either the incipient or later 

 stages . 



3^/ Kimmey, James W. Cull factors for Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and 

 western redcedar in Southeast Alaska. Alaska Forest Research Center, 



Station Paper No. 6, August 1956. 



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