TIMBER GROWING IN THE LODGEPOLE PINE REGION 21 
Disposal of slash in the Engelmann spruce type is primarily a 
protection measure and has comparatively little bearing on silvicul- 
tural results. Piling and burning slash, as already noted with regard 
to the lodgepole type, is likely to result in damage to standing trees 
and to lower the productiveness of the soil. With the relatively low 
hazard in the Engelmann spruce type as a whole and the regional fire- 
protection system, the expense of piling and burning slash is war- 
ranted only on areas of special hazard and where the type dries out 
to an unusual degree, as in the western and northern forests. 
Slash disposal for the three main types may be briefly particu- 
larized as follows: 
LODGEPOLE PINE AND DOUGLAS FIR TYPES 
Pile and burn slash 4 inches in diameter and smaller resulting from 
cutting operations, as follows : 
Along railroad rights of way where fuel oil is not used for a distance of 
100 feet on each side of the right of way. 
For a distance of at least 100 feet around camps. 
For a distance of 100 feet on each side of main logging roads or highways. 
For a distance of 50 feet on each side of trails. 
In localities of high risk, on enough strips 100 feet wide, in addition to the 
above, and taking advantage of all natural fire lines, to leave no continuous 
areas of slash exceeding 160 acres. 
Elsewhere tops of trees may be left where they fall, except where 
the danger of fires starting is serious. In such instances limbs should 
be lopped from tops and conditions made favorable for the slash to 
disintegrate as fast as possible. This means that slash should be 
piled and burned on about 5 to 10 per cent of the cutting areas and 
in other places lopped or left in place. 
Wherever in Idaho and Montana this plan of slash disposal is in- 
sufficient to render adequate protection the piling and burning of all 
slash may be warranted. 
On steep slopes where the ground is naturally bare and subject 
to erosion slash should not be burned but placed in skid trails, roads, 
or gullies. 
ENGELMANN SPRUCE TYPE 
Tops of trees may be left where they fall in places where the dan- 
ger of fires starting is not serious, but where fire danger is great and 
it is important that conditions be made favorable for slash to dis- 
integrate as rapidly as possible limbs should be lopped from the 
tops. 
Additional precautions may be necessary in specially hazardous 
localities, such as certain areas in the northern portion of the region, 
where a combination of lopping and piling and burning, as outlined 
for the lodgepole pine type, may be warranted, or even the piling and 
burning of all slash. 
Where slash is to be burned, the piles should be compact and 
tepee-shaped so that they will burn satisfactorily under snow. An 
ideal pile is one about 5 feet high and 5 feet in diameter at the base, 
with small material at the bottom and large limbs placed butt up- 
ward toward the center, so that the larger portions will fall into the 
middle of the fire and burn completely. Piles should be located at a 
