The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1911-07-15
Stevens County Mans Stump Burning Plan

is not adapted to gravelly or sandy
soils, but our experiments have con-
vinced us that it may be profitably
employed by modifying the method
to the needs in the changed condi-
tions of soil. We have done this sue
cessfully as follows: Prepare the
stump in the usual way; that is, re-
moving the bark and digging away
the Objectionable soil to about the
depth one would want to plow, max
ing a trench around the stump, wider
at the top than at the bottom, the
sides sloping toward the stump. Now
put the fuel in this trench, using in
the dry season the same amount of
fuel and placed in the same way as
we have described above. During the
unfavOrable season concentrated
fuel may be used with good success.
Where dry sawdust is available, use
about one-half bushel of this In the
trench with kindling wood laid
around next to the stump, then use
from one to three gallons depending
on the size of the stump Of fuel oil
poured over this kindling wood and
7awdust. Next place a small amount
y
any good fuel which may be at hand,
over the top of this, and fill in with
pieces of bark, chips, rotten wood or
ferns around the top of the fuel to
prevent the dirt falling in between
the fuel and the stump at the start,
cover the fire and care for the stump
as before described.
For unfavorable soil conditions an
artificial covering is necessary. This
may be of any material accessible
that is sufficiently granular in form
so that it will not settle together too
tightly, making as nearly as possible
a non-conductor Of heat We nave
used successfully ordinary coal Gin
ders and clay hauled from the near
est supply point. The coal cinders
and clay make a splendid covering
except in time Of heavy precipitation.
They do not have the capacity to alb
sorb the moisture that the clay has,
hence more water reaches the fire,
although our experience with this
feature of the work has been limited.
However, this does not seem to make
a great deal of difference, as the cool
ing, heat absorbing effect of the
water in the clay gives about the
same result.
There Is an advantage in the Gin
ders for artificial covering. The sup
ply can be taken up from stump
burned out and carried to the next
stump to be burned. Perhaps in time
we shall find other materials that Will
take the place of these where they
are not convenient. We have been
frequently asked whether 1t might
not be possible to use sheet iron or
other like substance for this covering.
At first thought it would seem that
this would be possible, but in actual
practice it fails; first, because such
materials are conductors of heat and
conduct the heat away from the
stump and, second. they are rigid
and do not follow the fire closely.
Any cover that is rigid might be sue
cessful for time, but when the mate
rial has burned away some distance,
the radiating effect is lost, and since
radiated heat dminishes as the square
of the distance increases, the loss Is
apparent.
We do not think it advisable to
use large pieces of bark for fuel, but
If the bark is broken up pretty well,
it serves the purpose of fuel when
placed on the outside of the fire. Bark
is natural non-conductor provided
by nature with many air cells to pro-
tect the growing trees from the ex-
tremes of heat of summer and the
cold of winter, but when broken up
into small pieces and placed around
the top, it will take the place OF fuel,
although it is not as good as dry.
sound wood, except to fill the smaller
spaces between the other fuel.
From our observation where clay
which has been shovelled over few
times before being placed over the
fuel, is used for artificial coverir g, 1t
is pretty we'll broken up, so that, III
placing it over the fuel, there are not
MANY air spaces left around the bot
tom to help draw the fire around Ghe
stump at the start. We have found
II advantageous to so lay In rev
pieces of bark or other material, that
there will be openings left around
near the ground line to admit the air
The fuel oils may be had very
cheaply wherever they are used Tor
fuel in factories steamboats, of rail
road engines, costing about SO when
bought by the barrel, but as lit.le as
90 cents per barrel in quantities One
barrel of oil used as we have suggest.
ed is sufficient for from twenty to
thirty average stumps and wher, on"
can use his time to advantage, this
is about as cheap fuel as one cculd
get by any method Of preparing fuel
There is a further advantage In the
fact that. oil is a concentrated fuel
and permits the maximum heat pro-
duction in the minimum space.
II has been our observation that
light colored clay soils are stronger
refectors of heat and the fire seems to
burn better and faster than with the
darker colored soil.