LOSS TO YOUNG GROWTH IN FELLING. 63 
The actual loss caused by the use of Spruce in building roads can not 
be estimated accurately, because the trees used are generally small, and 
no market value can be placed upon many of them. But as a basis for 
the future crops they have sufficient value to prohibit their removal 
except where really necessary. 
LOSS TO YOUNG GROWTH IN FELLING. 
Reference has already been made to the large amount of young 
Spruce throughout the forest. (PI. I.) This young growth is to form 
the main part of the crops to be cut during the next 50 years, and it is 
extremely desirable that as little be destroyed as possible. There is 
usually more than one direction in which a tree can be thrown by means 
of wedges, and it is perfectly possible to do the felling with very little 
injury to the small growth without additional expense. Many sawyers 
take pride in felling the trees without making a slash, and in such cases 
but little young growth is damaged. Fully 50 per cent of the sawyers, 
however, cut the trees in a most careless manner and take no pains 
whatever in regard to smashing young timber. The careless sawyers 
should be made to do as good work as those who are careful of their 
own accord. 
INJURY DONE IN SKIDDING. 
As a rule, the logs cut upon about 3 acres are rolled on one skidway. 
Tt is thus necessary to drag the logs a considerable distance through the 
woods. A large number of small trees are broken in this way, and 
foresters who are not in full touch with the conditions of this country 
often feel that a large amount of unnecessary damage is being done. 
As a matter of fact, there is usually only one path by which it is prac- 
tical to “snake” a log from the stump to the skidway. Anyone who 
observes a gutterman at work will see at once that he picks out the 
path where there are the fewest obstructions, like fallen logs, stumps, 
and brush. Everything in this path must be cleared, exactly as all 
trees and brush must be cut away in building a lumber road; and the 
loss of small trees caused by the trailing of logs must be considered 
in exactly the same light as that caused by building roads. If a care- 
ful examination is made of the forest growth after skidding it will be 
found that the total loss caused in this way is in the aggregate insig- 
nificant. The contractor should, however, be made to use every pre- 
caution to do no unnecessary damage to the young growth. 
DESTRUCTION OF SMALL GROWTH IN HATILING. 
This takes place on steep roads, where the men frequently scatter 
Spruce brush to check the speed of the sleds. It often happens that 
all the young Spruce left standing by the choppers near such steep 
roads are cut to supply the brush for this purpose, and the stems are 
