LUMBERING. bo 
LUMBERING. 
REMOVAL OF HARDWOODS. 
Besides the hardwoods in the swamps, there is, wherever moisture 
is present in sufficient quantities, a growth of hardwoods on the pine 
lands. These hardwoods form an understory, and in the present 
forest do little harm. Hitherto fires have kept them back by killing 
off the smaller trees. As soon as fire is kept out of the pine forests, 
however, hardwoods will become more plentiful, and possibly will 
hinder the reproduction of pine. Therefore hardwoods should be 
removed so far as possible when the pine lands are being logged. 
Unfortunately the uses that hardwoods of the class found on pine 
Jands can be put to are limited. 
WHAT HARDWOODS CAN BE USED FOR. 
In a ftat country, such as the one under consideration, railroading is 
sometimes made difficult by the soft places which allow the track to 
‘sink. To support it poles-are often laid under the ties, and too com- 
‘monly pine is used for this purpose. By using hardwoods instead the 
latter would be got rid of and the supply of young pine saved. Hard- 
‘woods should also be used for all temporary bridging and crib work, 
and, when possible, for skids. 
A large number of ties are used yearly by the company on their log 
trams. At present a few of these are cypress, but most are of pine. 
Since ties are hewed, the pines used for this purpose are pole pines of 
the right size to make a tie. This use of pine trees for ties should be 
| avoided, for it reduces the yield at the next cut. A good many ties 
! could be obtained from pine tops, a few from hardwoods, and what 
/more were required from pocoson cypress. Cypress makes excellent 
ties, and though a valuable timber, the chances for a second crop are 
_very poor, so that small trees of this species can well be used for this 
purpose. 
For fuel the locomotives now use either fatty knots or trees cut 
_down and sawed up for this purpose. A considerable amount of good 
pine is thus used. If possible this waste should be avoided. Cull 
trees, pine tops, hardwoods, and down timber should be used for fire- 
wood so far as possible. 
THE STEAM SKIDDER. 
In lumbering nearly all of the logs are dragged from the stump to 
the track by steam skidders. By their use the cost of logging is 
greatly reduced, but great damage is done the trees left standing. 
Many are broken off or uprooted and many more are barked or 
bruised by the logs. All possible precautions should be taken in 
skidding logs to see that as little damage as possible is done the 
standing trees. 
