14 BULLETIN 1402, r. s. depaiitme:s^t of ageicultuke 
results following broadcast slash burning were found in various parts 
of the State, but as a percentage of the total number of areas ex- 
amined they were negligible. 
In a wide variety of forms, with spring, summer, and fall burn- 
ing, on every important type, and in the great majority of cases, 
broadcast burning results in leaving the land unproductive. It is 
only under very special conditions that broadcast burns restock com- 
pletely to desirable species, regardless of the intensity of the fire. 
Where occasionally the damage is confined to destruction of advance 
reproduction and small trees, the slash is not completely consumed 
and fire hazard remains high. As already notecl, a further dis- 
advantage of broadcast burning is that the spread of brush is much 
more rapid on burned than on unburned areas logged at the same 
time. Clearly the method can not be used if continuous forest pro- 
duction is sought. 
PILI>'G A>'D BUEXI]N"G 
Slash may be disposed of by first piling it so that it will cover a 
relatively small portion of the area and then burning it, as is done 
generally on national forest cuttings. This method is effective for 
reducing fire hazard but is rather expensive. A more detailed dis- 
cussion of this method will be found in the second section of the 
bulletin. 
Where the object of the owner is simply to leave cut-over lands 
reasonably productive, it is not certain that piling and burning is 
necessary. Partial disposal of slash must first be examined as an 
alternative. 
PAETIAL DISPOSAL OF SLASH 
By piling and burning the debris on strips, and leaving the slash 
elsewhere, the essentials of low cost of disposal and safety of cut- 
over lands may be attained. In an extensive examination of cut- 
over lands two impressive findings were the very considerable pro- 
portion of cut-over lands that escape fire with no slash disposal or 
protection whatever, and the rapidity with which slash on such 
areas disappears. This statement is not an indorsement of a lais- 
sez-faire policy for cut-over lands, but serves to indicate that a 
study of areas untouched by fire is just as necessary as is an exami- 
nation of burned lands. 
The desirability and practicability of leaving part of the slash 
must be considered from at least three angles: 
(1) Most important, what can be expected in protection of lands 
on which slash is left, and how rapidly and completely will this 
slash disappear? 
(2) What influence will leaving of slash have on development of 
advance reproduction, and how will it affect the chances of obtaining 
new reproduction? 
(3) Does undisposed-of slash constitute a menace as a possible 
starting place for epidemics of destructive insects or fungi? 
The last question can be answered with a reasonable degree of 
certainty. The danger of serious insect epidemics starting in slash 
appears"^ to be slight. Freshly cut stumps and slash are of course 
breeding place for such insects, but the broods normally go from 
