Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-10-23

grass seed may be sown. If the land
is burned over during the dry season
it is necessary to obtain a permit from
the state fire warden and TO use much
greater percaution for keeping the fire
under control.
Preparing for the Burning.
In order to get the greatest amount
of pasture from logged-off land it is
sometimes necessary 10 slash tcut
DOWN the second growth OF timber
and brush that springs up after the
logging. While evergreens may be
slashed at any time during the year,
deciduous trees and saplings should
be cut in the late spring or early sum-
mer when the leaves are out and the
sap is flowing If cut at this season
of the year more of the roots Will
die and rot out. The slashing should
be done early enough TO give the
brush time to dry. In order TO get it
TO lie closely together and make the
hottest fire when burned. the trees
and brush should be felled in the
same direction as nearly as possible.
Cutting the large limbs from the tree
tops left by the loggers will also aid
in getting a complete burn. If the
large and partly decayed logs are
bored. split with a small charge of
powder, and allowed to dry for several
weeks they will be more nearly con-
sumed by the fire. To guard against
the fire being carried by the wind. the
old dead trees and snags should be
cut down. While this preparation for
the burn is necessary in order to get
the greatest quantity of feed from the
pasture, some men claim it will not
pay to do any slashing between the
cessation Of logging and the time OF
the burn. This is d matter that must
be decided by each individual.
Since the land to be burned over is
to be used for pasture, ii will be nee
essary to fence it. If fence row 10
or II feet wide is cleared around the
margin of the area to be burned ov-
er. it will greatly help in controlling
the fire. 1t will also make it much
easier to keep the fence in repair when
the land is inclosed AS a further pre-
caution. several barrels OF water may
be hauled and placed at points where
the fire is likely to be difficult to
control.
Time to Set the Fire.
The velocity of the wind is usually
highest from 10 a. m. to . p. N. The
safest time 70 start the fire, therefore,
is in the late afternoon or after the
sun has gone down. 1t is safest TO
back-fire, that is, to start the fire on
the side toward which the wind is
likely to blow, forcing it to burn
against the wind.
If logged off land is burned over as
indicated above-just before the fall
rains begin-the ground is usually left
in good condition for seeding If the
burn takes place during October or
in the late spring the fine trash on
the surface of the ground is usually
too wet to burn sufficiently to give a
good stand of grass. The surface OF
the ground must be completely burned
over and covered with ashes in order
that the seed may terminate well.
Pasture Plants.
Since the stumps and the unburned
tree tops in most instances will re-
main on the land for several years,
there will be little opportunity to re-
new the stand Of grass. For this
reason great care should be exercised
in selecting the seed for the pasture
mixture. The ground will be occupied
either by the grasses sown or by
weeds. 1t is evident, then that part
Of the mixture should consist of plants
which will start easily, make rapid
growth, and occupy the ground quick
~. Because of the difficulty in re-
newing the stand it is also essential
that the mixture contain plants which
will last a long time, stand trampling
and close cropping, and yet produce as
much growth as possible. AS a guide
in making up the mixture, brief des-
cription of the leading pasture plants
is here given.
Timothy.
Timothy is one of the most widely
grown grasses in Western Oregon and
Western Washington. The seed is
cheap, has very high percentage of
termination, and usually gives good
stand if it has been properly sown.
It thrives best on moist soil, not be-
ing well adapted to either very wet or
very dry conditions. Timothy is an
excellent grass to SOW in temporary
pasture mixtures and to occupy the
ground for two or three years in per-
manent pastures. 1t should form only
part of the mixture on logged-off