rare rp ce 5 ; he i : 4 ; i i] = a — = 5 ¢ " 5 - - ‘ cf ~ S 4 ww - 7 : \ : i" : : = ‘ ° . iam mt Fo . ‘et J Fi Ma - : we a : | ant 7 , , _& ’ . te { a . ' eel ‘ A - = ee 7 - = y n af - F 2 | ‘J i t = : a - 4 wee | { 7 - 7 1 { ’ F1 7 . —_— - , . : a - P - sa j : = | E 7 7 ' a : : : a : oo ae th A i Wey 7 si iy - q = — mi : - | “ef , - nae | : 7 <= : is = Y = 7 . 7 ; ; . atl = , = ; ‘ q 7 . = : ' ~~ : 2 : > A - ~ = : ' - = * ‘ +; Fi = cs 7 ! i q = , Ay age f - » Pd .s 7 a ? ‘ Vv t - j 4 i “ ‘ } ‘* 4 , , : : ; a. , te , A co , s - 7 ‘ ‘ | . > - 7 - 7 i y . 7 Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. See aati RAIS TS een meme Seg ee ee nt eee a ee a é ; a ’ “ re * BULLETIN OF THE Sc) USDEPARINENT OFACICULIURE & No. 91 Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry, Wm. A. Taylor, Chief. May 16, 1914. COST AND METHODS OF CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE STATES. | By Harry Tuompson, Agriculturist, and Earu D. Srrair, Scientific Assistant O fice of Farm Management. INTRODUCTION. Practically the entire northeastern part of Minnesota and all of Michigan and Wisconsin were originally forest land. Nearly all the southern parts of Michigan and Wisconsin are now cleared except for scattering farm wood lots. At the present time large areas of undeveloped land are found in northeastern Minnesota and the northern half of Michigan and Wisconsin. In Table I the figures showing the area of improved and unimproved lands were taken from the census of 1910; the statistics regarding the area of merchantable timber land and of logged-off land and the land values were compiled from data obtained from State, county, and township officials, lumber companies, and other companies or individuals well informed on these matters. The figures obtained furnish a fairly close ap- proximation to the actual acreage of merchantable timber and logged-off land in the three States mentioned. A part of the logged-off land in the three States specified probably would give better returns if put into permanent forest, but there is much good agricultural land in nearly every county in which these investigations have been conducted which at the present time is not erowlng desirable timber and is an idle waste (fig. 1), giving no re- turns whatever. Because of the danger from fire, these waste areas form a menace to the communities. At the present rate of cutting, most of the remaining merchantable timber will be cut within the next 25 years. This means that in many counties there will be a change from lumbering to farming. Note.—This bulletin gives details of cost and methods of clearing land in the Lake States and is of spe- cialinterest to settlers in the logged-off sections of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. 36156°—Bull. 91—14——_1 2 BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. TABLE I.—Acreage of improved and unimproved lands, merchantable timber, and logged-off land and values of the improved and logged-off lands in the various counties of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. | Acreage. Value per acre. State and county. | - N I - | . : Improved. ates aad Merchant-_ Logged-off. | Improved. | Logged-off. | Michigan: | | IA COMA Hees eee ee eee ee 38, 037 | 399, 723 3, 000 327,700 | $40 to $60 $5 to $15 AllceDs Mes tion eee cee naan 5, 634 583, 157 375, 000 125, 000 30 | 6 pense esses ae ernie 51, 403 399° 357 1, 200 222,357 25 | 10 PATER eee on oe see nee 78, 810 225, 190 16, 000 179, 190 60 10:50" 15 Arena Chee set ee |. ae 55, 571 a USS y, (Coie Betee 346 So Se 113, 800 60 10 BALA LAr ee see eee es 9, 344 577, 536 297, 280 240, 256 75 (te 25 Baye. CEA ee eee 142, 635 HAOSSS hie a sect eee 45, 100 100 15105 25 IBEN ZC) tee eee ese 48, 856 152, 104 2, 000 132, 100 50 10to 25 @harlevours ss Saas see 61, 587 201, 463 16, 000 175,400 | 40 up 10 up Cheboyeaneearss= cee 50, 925 413,075 43, 280 300, 795 30 10 Chippewa CL eee Sa 79,335 927, 384 933, 360 348,400 | 50 to 55 6to 25 Glare ee ee eee eh bas a AL S185 DDO AS coe 293, 559 60 15 Grawior deen ce ee ee eee 10, 701 357, 299 15, 000 320, 000 35 8 (Delia eeeres be Seo. ee eee 42, 932 705, 228 150, 000 450, 000 40 10 Dickimsone ses eee ee 8, 342 488, 298 174, 397 269,846 | 75 to 100 3to 25 SH TIUINIC Geers eee eine were 54, 265 256, 135 40, 200 174,720 | 20to 30 10 Gladweins fee eewtes See yee | 54, 123 278, 037 2, 000 240, 592 40 7to 10 Gore biGaie sss bt eee 4,742 720,378 597, 327 69,319 | 50to 80 5 to, 12 Grand Traverse.........-- | 109,378 189, 502 15, 360 134, 192 50 12 Gratiot ease ae oe Pers 248, 899 PATE (oS Ls ee ee 50,0000} 4. 2 o-ace= ale cece eee HOUGHTON ee eae = ace 35, 921 616, 239 217, 200 299,040 | 50to 75 10 Tosco} 523508. oes See 40, 735 | S24; 0008 Se eee ee 232,000 | 20to 50 sate wee 0) PrOnE Tes eee wee ees } 9, 008 798, 992 366, 833 S20 ,OT0 IF OU) LO) OU) Gyro, ALP) isabella ee 17, 506 341, 534 , 200 161500) | eee. Beesasoessee Muskecon ee te Ft | 109, 656 512,904 \0) ee: 152,900 | 35to 70 3up INe@Way Ole eee sac eine 166, 072 378, 568 | See eee = 240,600 | 25 up 10 up Oceana earn isos eat 151, 782 195, 738 | 8, 500 179,900 | 50 up 2.50 to 25 Osemaw 2 sere re Hee oes | 55, 437 315, 763 | 2,000 260,800 | 40to 50 10 Ontoneconee. ss nese ease 11,992 841, 128 510, 000 300,000 | 25to 50 3 to 10 Osceolaige ts te sees | 129, 303 239, 977 1, 760 215, 900 | 5 20 Osco ater ee os eeot eee 16, 218 352, 422 10, 000 296,400 | 25to 50 10to 15 Otsego Bee sees ase ee 27, 627 310, 293 70, 840 196,500 | 20to 40) 8.50to 15 Ottawar eres es sen 247, 236 BUA Gy: | caries eee 5 75,200 | 60to 70 30 up Presque Isle). ..!. 222.2... 39, 925 393, 995 9, 960 245,800 | 30to 35 10 IVOSCOMMON es - a= sa 8,951 335, 369 30, 000 245,000 | 25to 50] 7.50to 25 Sagitlawa seem oe. a | 304, 738 Oa SS ae a Ra ern: ego DD tel at es ee Sehooleraftss==--5- eee 15, 43 757, 049 100, 000 400,000 | 30to 75 5to 15 Weosfords Sk een soe cece 79, 044 290, 236 33, 960 226,000 | 25 up 5 to 12.50 All other counties!......-- 8561259 | iro, oUd OL | ocone sc eee eee eee Vee See Sa ee ee Lee otal se ee eee piedonicah cS See Pe anf PS BST, 2Ob | ly O54 O28 sleek a le cee ee Wisconsin: A'shland seine! set ao Se 24, 400 668, 000 150, 000 450,000 — 50 3to 35 BATON =. ~ sen eat 170, 203 396, 197 3,000 | 400,000 20to 60 10to 15 Bavyiield =o. soe ees 21,700 940, 200 200, 000 | 600,000 60 to 7150 | 3 to 2100 IBUTNBLESs-— conGs ee eee 56, 600 493, 800 15,000 265,000 | 50 10to 20 Ghappowa sss. 28-9, eee 196, 000 458, 900 46,800, 315,600; 40to 50) 12to 20 Clank. se wees eee 151, 900 627, 600 1, 250 625, 000 50 to 100 6to 10 Douglass. 2. 4sSheees se * 19,900 835, 800 22,000 700, 000 | 20to 35 5t655-20 DUNN Scie ce Pa. ee 245, 100 311, 100 1,000 300, 000 20to 35 5 to: 10 WauiGlaire 52 s24 sooo ee 185, 861 223, 459 2,000 113,000 | 20to 50 7to 20 WMlorenee 22). = 2 eee 8, 500 309, 600 93,500 202, 200 | 50 4to 10 HONCSts see ee ce os eee 6, 100 889, 900 335, 085 490, 800 50 | 10 frpe a i k eree 3, 900 503, 000 165, 000 335,000 | 75to 100} 3to 25 Tanplade se tceaee- ee hens 47,800 512, 200 240, 000 250,000! 25to 60! 3to 20 1The only timber in the county is in farm wood lots, 2 Orchard land, CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE STATES. 5) Tasie I.—Acreage of improved and unimproved lands, merchantable timber, and logged-off land and values of the improved and logged-off lands in the various counties of M ichigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota—Continued. Acreage. Value per acre. State and county. ane 5 Improved. rowed: cy aurea Logged-off.} Improved. | Logged-off. Wisconsin—Continued. PN COUN ee eee oe eee Ss 33, 550 543, 730 203, 000 307,000 | $40 to $80 $8 to $20 Maraphonetepese 4-9-2 184, 150 810, 410 86, 500 700,000 | 25to 60 10to 20 iMaminetbes =e. £5 secs - 79,474 826, 126 210, 000 575,000 | 20to 60 5to 10 OcwmiOuse=. + seh See 134, 000 581, 500 125, 000 110,000 | 40to 60 3)bos 15 OMe iowa erase ee ee oe 17, 700 558, 900 37,000 485,000 | 30to 60 Stony 12 TRG \oNnaler es a aie eee 70,175 80, 865 1, 000 2,500 25 10 TEXG) leak a ae ee Oe Re Rane eee 149, 600 448, 800 15, 000 225, 000 40 12 1ELDY RZ) SOR ae rl ge 218, 149 301, 530 7,500 197,500 | 25to 50 AHO! 3/110) IBTI Genesee ee etary 2 23, 100 795, 500 180, 480 500,000 | 25 to 60 6to 15 TGUIS ke eee Ds oe 25, 900 566, 100 90, 000 400,000 | 50to 100 9to 20 SPAWN CLERC eee See ree 10, 400 834, 400 225,000 550, 000 50 Hato) Zo Shawano seeseecee eee se 170, 200 370, 900 211, 600 185,000 | 380to 40 Sto _ 10 WehylOGe sec ak ee 33, 900 600, 300 200, 320 300,000 | 40 to. 60 10to 20 Willa Seeteente eee ee 4, 600 528,500 85, 000 350,000 | 30to 60 Stor 12 Washburn ssasess ss4- 5s 41, 600 492, 800 18, 000 365,000 | 20to 70 5 to). 15 Winttipacatecs et en eene ss 221, 248 264, 512 1, 250 97,500 | 25to 60] YT0to 20 OVC MSs ae Meese 108, 000 409, 800 1,000 396,000 | 50to 75 8to 20 All other counties..-...--.- 9, 243,896 | 7,060, 800 OA ab Eres Aa eee eee OSHA aa ee seers GG palin Se One! iso | 23 Sed lh ad ee aaa amc Dug 7D» 285i | lO 7o2 O08 | sete: eee nen ei Minnesota | a SRNC SANK Mers eee eee Ne} SS 34,750 | 1,136, 450 100, 000 800,000 | 40 up 5 ON INTO DE os ee Eee 101,575 192, 000 1,200 110,000 | 30to 90 15 tooNd0!, Bekele eee ce oe 178, 892 684, 468 200, 000 450,000 | 380to 60 10 to 30 IBelinama eee ee oe eee 33, 253 | . 2, 413, 000 500,000 | 1,350,000 | 20te 60 6to 15 IBCHtONSsasere se eee 108, 847 150, 000 22,500 110,000 | 35 to 100 15 to 30 Warltomte ee seek 27, 518 | 527, 362 10, 000 510,000 | 50 up 10 up ASS Ware MEL aoa a 40,262 | 1,300,000 300, 000 900,000 | 25to 75 Sto 16 Cinisagones See ee eee 104, 670 | 168, 600 15, 000 112,000 | 20to 50 10to 20 Cleanwatens 25 -ee= eee 40,000 | 612, 000 60, 000 400,000 | 20to 40 Setowalo OO Kes ees ee ee 1,568 | 957, 152 450, 000 23500003 522 52 =< ea oes LoS Crowe Wille asc ee cee se 51, 989 | 624, 491 165, 000 410,000 | 20to 30 10 to 165 ELD pandas sae see 55, 699 | 557, 400 75, 000 400,000 } 20to 30 Sule o TAS fri aN Bb eR cero leah pe ae a 109, 642 | 173, 246 1, 200 100,000 | 20to 50 10to 20 IDEAS Cae Sisk ie Ser 13,636 | 1,733,600 510,000 | 1,050,000 40 10 Kana bec ie Stews foe 37,370 | 304, 400 18,000 278,000 | 15 to 100 10 to 30 WAI OUR Stee ee eee Smee te 2,381} 1,341,000 500, 000 GOOROOOM Reiss eee eles eye eee IMahnoment=- sons ss 2 = 24, 123 341, 967 95, 000 200,000 | 30to 60 10 to 30 Marshall sa ssee caer 2 380, 677 763, 600 32, 500 SOROOO Bee sa Wels eee eran Mint Og aCSeaee screen ae a= 48, 438 324, 682 30, 000 283,000 | 35 to 100 15 to 30 IMOETISON Sas even ne sees 184, 150 547, 370 20, 000 450,000 | 25to 40 10to 15 OntermMaiees aches eet ae 592, 598 712, 362 * 250, 000 PANO), OOO Pas seseaeeas Hosocossacees IRenmingtOne sae—>-—- hese. 136, 735 252,000 None. SIGONO0 OF peeee ese | peer seer IRIN Grease eat 64, 768 839, 552 125, 500 640, 000 50 8 IPaligs Sas eRe ee tee oe 643, 946 622, 614 10, 000 SHON OOO || epee ee sel ee Ve Scere: iedmhaketzenis) isan 77, 138 199, 342 3, 000 SO OOOH Beira eo oe alee cee IVOSCAUMeme ere mee oes ees 157, 332 911, 000 60, 000 350,000 | 20to. 60 5to 20 SG MIU OUI SHS ene eeeace sane 41,111 | 4,120, 809 300,000 | 1,200,000 | 40 to 50 5 bow ZO SAC OWINMNS Ae eeenoek= se. se 110, 927 175, 793 1,000 3100,000 | 40to 90 15to 40 WXGA i es ee 69, 703 274, 617 40, 000 180,000 | 20to 40 Sto? 15 All other counties......... ROGERS ORICA MON ete ck metal cate aN ee a ecu ve Mota semeeemerteee ree elie em ecra ee NO aes eo S OOF IOON ll OSs OOO) ease ten sae le release SUMMARY. ’ Classification. | Michigan. Wisconsin. | Minnesota. ; Acres. Acres. Acres. Approximate iene Ie epee eee epee eta alam fk TEM oH ih gi 36, 787, 200 | 35,363,840 | 51,749, 120 “Say PONG! Teal as os RS Mi SE aS el teen ae 12,832,078 | 11,907,606 | 19,643,533 PATTI O eC ald eae he oa A 23,955,122 | 23,456, 234 | 32, 105, 587 EOC ETON OS Taba oe a a i a 4,587,261 | 2,972,285 3, 894, 900 PETS TLR Meri aig SS 2 Bal ss I a ne oe 11, 954,628 | 10,792,100 | 11,768,000 1 Wood lots only. 2 Large burns, 3 Brush land. 4 BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The clearing and management of the logged-off lands is the most _ pressing problem in most of these counties. The object of the inves- tigations conducted by the Office of Farm Management has been to obtain data from which to acquaint the public with the large areas of undeveloped land in these sections and the nature of the work neces- _ sary to make them available for agricultural purposes. A study has — also been made of all the different conditions of clearing and the best methods practiced in the different sections, with the object of com- bining the best practices into a system or number of systems of clear- ing adapted to the region. Fic. 1.—Characteristic stump land in the Lake region. At the present time very little logged-off land that would make de- sirable farm land can be bought for less than $15 to $25 per acre. As the cost of clearing varies from $20 to $90 per acre, the cost of farm land cleared of stumps will run from $35 to $115 per acre, the average being about $65. When the cost of other necessary Improvements is added to this, it makes the ultimate cost of animproved farm higher than the price of equally as good a farm in many of the older, well- settled agricultural sections of the United States. The high price of the logged-off land and the high cost of clearing seriously retard its development. The methods given in this bulletin, while extensively used, are not necessarily the best possible. There is plenty of room for improve- — ment in all the methods now practiced. CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE STATES. 5 METHODS OF CLEARING. All methods of clearing have to deal with the removal of the stumps, brush, and second growth. In a few localities the second growth can be disposed of to charcoal and wood-extract companies, to mining companies (for use as ties and timbers), to wood-pulp mills, or for use as fuel for cnough to pay for its removal. It usually does not pay, however, to haul the wood more than 4 or 5 miles. In most cases the second growth (fig. 2) has no value except as firewood for the use of the settler, and its removal must be considered an expense of clearing. Fig. 2.—Typical logged-off land of the Lake region. It is cheapest to cut the brush as soon after logging as possible. It should be cut close to the ground when in full leaf, heaped into com- pact piles, and burned as soon as it will burn well. The best time for burning is during the summer. On account of the danger of the fire spreading at this time, the local or State fire warden should be con- sulted and a permit obtained from him before any burning is at- tempted. Some make a practice of harrowing or disking the ground imme- diately after burning and then sowing timothy seed. The following spring, as the frost leaves the ground, clover seed is added. Others sow all the grass seed in the spring. Where possible it is a good plan to leave the land in pasture or meadow several years before removing any stumps. (Fig. 3.) 6 BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. On hardwood land the cost of removing green stumps is much more than that of removing similar stumps that have decayed for six or seven years. In the case of pme stumps growing in the heavier Fic. 3.—Stump land that has been pastured for several years. soils, the settling of the land and the heaving action of the frost gradually work the stumps out of the ground, so that the expense of removing them will be somewhat less where the land has been in grass several years. - (Fig. 4.) A serious drawback to leaving the Fic. 4.—Blasting stumps from land that has been in pasture for several years. land in grass without stumping is the sprout growth. To keep down this sprout growth requires persistent work for several years. Sheep and goats have been used successfully in some localities, but the dairy herd has taken the place of nearly all the flocks and is considered more profitable. CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE STATES. 7 In cultivating a field covered with stumps, it is impossible to use modern farm machinery efficiently. Stumps are removed (1) by explosives alone, (2) by explosives used in connection with stump pullers or block and line, (3) by stump pullers alone, and (4) by power machines. EXPLOSIVES. Explosives alone are used effectively and economically in all stump- ing operations on the heavier soils and for well-decayed hardwood stumps on the lighter soils. They have the advantages of thor- oughly breaking up the stumps, of not requiring a large force of men for clearing operations or a large cash outlay at one time, and of enabling the work to be done quickly. The rather high cost of explosives when bought in small quantities and the fact that only experienced men should handle them are their chief drawbacks. Direct cooperative buying in wholesale lots will reduce materially the cost of the explosives. Satisfactory instructions * regarding the use of explosives are now published by practically all manufacturers. The chief faults of the average man in blasting stumps are his tendency to place the charge too‘shallow and his failure to put it under the center of resistance of the stump. | On most of the land-clearing operations in Michigan dynamite containing 40 per cent of nitroglycerin or its equivalent is used. In a few sections dynamite containing 20 to 30 per cent of nitroglycerin or its equivalent has been used with very satisfactory results. On the Pacific coast 20 per cent nitroglycerin dynamite or its equivalent is used almost exclusively. Dynamite containing the smaller per- centages is cheaper, less dangerous to use, and does not pack the soil to such an extent as the stronger preparations. On the heavier soils the lower strength explosives will give just as good results pound for pound as the higher. The lower strengths act more slowly, with much less shattering, and have almost the same lifting force as those containing higher percentages of nitroglycerin. It is commonly believed that dynamite with 60 per cent of nitro- glycerin is twice as effective as that with 30 per cent and that that with 40 per cent of nitroglycerin has twice the effectiveness of 20 per cent. Tests by the United States Bureau of Mines? have demonstrated 1 Valuable information regarding the proper use of explosives in stumping may be found in the following publications: McGuire, A. J. Land clearing. University of Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 134, 32 p., 21 fig., 1913. Kadonsky, J. F. The use of explosives inclearing land. University of Wisconsin Agricultural Experi- ment Station, Bulletin 216, 19 p., 20 fig., 1911. Thompson, Harry. Cost and methods of clearing land in western Washington. U.S. Department of : Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bulletin 239, 60 p., 25 fig., 1912. 2 Hall, Clarence, and Howell, Spencer P. The selection of explosives used in engineering and mining operations. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Bulletin 48, 50 p., 3 pl., 7 fig., 1913. 8 BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. that the propulsive or hitting force of 60 per cent ‘‘straight”’ nitro- glycerin dynamite is only 18.7 per cent more than that with 30 per cent. On the other hand, its disruptive or shattering force is 42.5 per cent more. Carefully conducted field tests in stump blasting have shown that the propulsive or lifting effect of 40 per cent nitro- glycerin dynamite is but little more than that of 20 per cent, while the disruptive or shattering effect of the 40 per cent is considerably more than that of the 20 per cent preparation. In stump blasting a high propulsive force and a comparatively low disruptive effect are desirable. For this reason ammonia dynamite (powders containing some ammonia and branded “‘extra’’) and powders containing no nitroglycerin, because of their slower action and consequent low Fig. 5.—Capstan stump puller. This type requires an anchor stump from which all stumps within a radius equal to the length of the pulling cable can be pulled. disruptive effect, are generally to be preferred to the straight nitro- glycerin powders. In case the lower nitroglycerin powders or their equivalent are employed, No. 6 or stronger caps should be used. STUMP PULLERS. Two types of stump pullers are used—those that pull from the side, as the capstan (fig. 5), and the tripod type, which lifts the stump vertically (figs. 6 and 7). THE CAPSTAN TYPE OF MACHINE. The capstan type has the advantage that an acre or more of stumps can be pulled at a single setting. In pulling small stumps like scrub oak, jack pine, and certain kinds of hardwood, the saving in time is CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE STATES. 9 quite an item. In pulling small, sound stumps considerable time 1s saved in not having to dig root holes, which are necessary when using a tripod type of machine. With large stumps which are partly decayed, this saving of time over that re- quired in the use of the tripod type is about offset by the loss of time due to stumps breaking off. When this occurs, each large root must be dug and pulled out separately. The capstan machine will _ work on steeper land | than the tripod, though no machine will do very satisfac- tory work on a steep hillside. By using the double and triple power arrangements of lines, the capstan machines will pull any white-pine stump in the Lake States. Many practical land-clearing operators using the cap- stan machines do not favor the use of the double or triple power in connection with these machines because of the time lost in ad- justing the blocks and hauling the extra cable. They prefer to use a small quan- tity of dynamite un- der the larger stumps to split and loosen them. With the tri- pod type of machine the use of dynamite to loosen the stump is unnecessary, because these machines are powerful enough to pull any white-pine stump. Fig. 6.—Typical tripod stump puller. Pullers of this type must be set directly over each stump pulled. Fig. 7,—Another stump puller of the tripod type. THE TRIPOD TYPE OF MACHINE. Many stumping contractors clearing white-pine land in Michigan use the tripod type of machine. Any stump pulls more easily when lifted vertically than when pulled from the side. No anchor stump 36156°—Bull. 9]—14——2 10 BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. is required with this type. The vertical-lift machines are more pow- erful and seem to require less repairs than the average capstan machine. On the other hand, the machine must be moved for each stump, requiring four or five horses. Holes must be dug under the roots of each stump. POWER MACHINES. Power machines have been used to a limited degree throughout this region. On large tracts of land, with a good outfit and an effi- cient crew, the clearing probably can be done with a power machine as cheaply as and considerably faster than by any other method in use at the present time. COST OF CLEARING LAND. The cost of clearing land in the Lake States varies greatly. It runs from $5 to about $100 per acre. The cut-over jack-pine land is the cheapest to clear and green hardwood and unburned swamp land the most expensive. The cost of clearmg depends on the fol- lowing factors: (1) The quantity of second growth and logs per acre: The cost of disposing of these runs from $5 to $25 per acre, and even higher, with an average of about $10. (2) The kind of stumps and the number of years since logging: All green hardwood stumps are very expensive to remove. Green birch and basswood are perhaps the most difficult. Most hardwoods decay so that they can easily be removed within 10 years from the time of logging, provided the sprout growth is not allowed to develop. Jack pine and hemlock will decay at about the same rate as hardwood. Scrub oak is more resistant to decay than the other hardwoods. White pine and Norway pine will not decay in 50 years. The cost of removing pine stumps from 5 years to 25 years after logging is practically the same. (3) The size and number of stumps per acre: The number of white-pine stumps per acre varies from 10 to 100, with an average of about 45. Some hardwood lands have more than 400 stumps per acre. Some contractors taking work by the job count the stumps and then add 10 per cent to the number to cover those that were overlooked or burned close to the ground. It usually is more expensive to remove severely burned white-pine stumps than it is toremove a sound stump. For this reason any system of burning that will not burn the roots below plow depth does not reduce the cost of stump- ing. A pretty close approximation of the average number of stumps per acre may be obtained by counting the number of stumps on several sampleacres. A circle of 117.8 feet radius contains an area of 1 acre. A rapid and convenient method is to stand on a stump and count all the stumps within 118 feet of it. (4) Soiland topography: Where stump-pulling machines are used, the cost of stump- ing in sandy soils is less than in heavier soils. Where dynamite is used, the cost in heavier soils is less than in sandy soils. On many tracts the land was swampy at the time of the tree growth, and the rooting system was consequently shallow. Aiter the tract shown in figure 8 was logged, fires burned off all the litter and most of the humus, leaving nearly all of the roots exposed. On many such areas a heavy team will tip out most of the stumps by a direct pull. For this reason this type of clearing is not usually expensive. (See ‘’Tract No. 20,’ p. 22.) Itis more expensive to pull stumps on steep land than it ison level land. It is more expensive to stump stony land than land free from stones, because the cleaning of the stumps is more difficult. 1 See Thompson, Harry, Cost and methods of clearing land in western Washington, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bulletin 239, 60 p., 25 fig., 1912, for use of power machines for Jand clearing. CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE STATES. mids 0) | (5) Size of area to be cleared and proximity to other clearings: Stump-pulling machines will usually reduce the cost of clearing, but it is not economical to buy one for the clearing of a small tract. Explosives cost considerably less when bought in large quantities. Ina locality where much clearing is being done it may be possible to cooperate in the purchase of stump pullers and explosives, and experienced help can be hired cheaper in such a region. Table II gives an approximate idea of the cost of clearing white- pine landin this region. Additional data of the conditions of clearing Fic. 8.—Swampy lands of the Lake region that have been burned over, showing the shallow root- ing system. on the 16 tracts summarized in this table, as well as details of the clear- ing of several additional tracts, are given in the pages which follow. TaBLE I1.—Approximate cost of removing stumps on 16 tracts of white-pine land, com- piled from records kept during actual operations. Stumps. - Cost, including labor. : | rer- Pulling.t : Tract. | Acres. Ren haan foe Soiland subsoil.| Method, |———__ ieee ae - = e 5 ber. |ameter Daan Con-| Ac- | TO@!-| acre. ee (inches). Sane tract.} tual. posal. NOs Weegss 40 2,000} 20.2 SOMSan divs. eas: WX LOSIVCs Hensel aac ee $925. 20/$23. 13) $0. 463 IN@sWesdes 3 297|18-36 9 eas donee Sees es CLOW etna ese SRO Ache 258. 00} 86. 00 - 86 IN@, Beesec 7. BBA sana AS Ii Claiyeiyac en ere PU Ore Ns eee eee 200. 00} 28.57} .60 INON 422222 24, 21 290| 19.85 1) eb halhy eee Capstanss|e.e ek: $0. 259) 145.00} 5.99) .50 IN@s Oss sse 50 1,018) 22 Z20noanGdyloam 2s hy.cdoe ose elle 2 372! 698. 91} 13.98 . 686 INONG S22. 1 78| 18.6 7 Bay, MPs ae ae SE(OK0) Seay eee Nee macy 144) 25.65) 25.65} .329 IN@s (Sense 60 2,464); 24.6 ASI Lanyanine se cee Ne Tripod..-.-|$0.32 | .26 |1,444.00) 24.07) 3.586 INO. 8. 5. -- 30 2,464; 24 sZinsandyloame sskedosse -/ ~ 19) 2102) 868. 00)'28.93) 35352 IN@3 Oy sase 30 2,000) 28 Gee COs ee ees Bel Este KOEN rales . 25 - 105) 710. 00) 23.67) 3.355 IN@; WOs sss 2s 1,812) 28.6 39 vsiltamdieclayie. |. sdowe 26 2 380) | 9382) |1283:82/2275 9m soak INO alae sa ees eran SM ere 28s Ovals /secstercteat| Cada ClO) Sree Re CLO sue ae sn Iga: 465|1,063.87]...... 3, 806 INOe Ze) 40 DrAQ0 ese. GOlSandy 25. OOS eas S .18 14 | 768.00) 19.20) 3.32 No. 18.. 20 1,293) 23.2 Gol ee. GO DE ro dota Bedliaseeue 500. 00} 25.00) 3. 387 No: 14_. 7.4 204) 26.77 Zs eandyn loam e|.) {dO 422-5 50 563) 184. 93] 25. 06 907 No. 15.. 40 Be OL) hep arate SOMSanGdieee ssc: ECOKO Psa eee 25 25 | 900.00) 22.50) 3.25 No. 16.. 35 O50 | Beamer SOlleaee (yer Mies Laue PAO KOA eee 33alesesee 700. 00) 20.00; .666 1 The operation of ‘‘pulling’’ includes getting the stump out of the ground, cleaning the dirt from its roots, and leaving it where it will not settle back into the ground. 2 Clay subsoil. 3 Tracts Nos. 7 to 13 and 15 were stumped by experienced contractors, who were well equipped and ‘employed experienced men with heavy teams accustomed to the werk. The average landowner can not Safely figure on getting his stumps pulled for less than these contract prices. 12 BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. TRACT NO. 1. Tract No. 1 contained 40 acres of level land. The soil to root depth varied from medium to fine sand. The blasting was done in the spring of 1913 at a time when the ground was wet. The tract was logged 32 years before. Since that time it had been burned repeat- edly, and there was no undergrowth. The tract averaged 4 or 5 small logs per acre. Of the stumps on the tract 16 per cent were so severely burned that it was necessary to partially dig the roots out: and pull them with a team. The average number of stumps per acre was 50, of which 20 per cent were Norway pine and 80 per cent were white pine. The diameter of the stumps at the cut-off varied from 6 to 30 inches, the average being 20.2 inches. The owners of this tract had recently purchased a capstan stump puller. With an inexperienced crew the cost of pulling and disposing of the stumps, as shown in Table III, was practically the same as with dynamite. TaBLeE II1.—Cost of labor and material in clearing an acre of tract No. 1. Cost. Days em- ue ployed. | Perdiem.| Total. Blasting stumps: ALO WiC Orth Qa seer ert. he os So en eee Napa ee Soe eee 1 $2.00 $2.00 Dynamites 7o;pounds ab, 13 !Ce@mits 32. Ao = eae eee ie ae ee on ee ee 9.75 Caps and TUSe. ate ek cc Sees ae er ed mete UI TE Rev nee Sere epee Server ERT ese fer ee 1.13 Pulling roots and piling and burning stumps: | aime. 4 dayaCaG heen. =. sea ae ae era Sud isles tye Shs fees ee Ee 3 1.75 5220 SET crI Wil GS CAIN er so eae ee erie oe ee spe ee me Sem ee Se 1 5.00 5. 00 TotaliGostipemacre. as.) oe See ees See ee SE Ee as eee ee me eg neg ee a ee 23515 Totalicost Per'stumMp..— 2-2 ee ee gs Ie ee Eee ee oe et See ee eee ee oe . 463 TRACT NO. 2. Three acres of pasture land having a sandy soil, containing 297 white-pine stumps 18 to 36 inches in diameter, were blasted by the use of 1,200 pounds of powder containing no nitroglycerin. This is an average of 43 cents per stump, including the cost of labor for doing the powder work. The cost of piling and burning is equal to the cost of blasting, which makes an average of 86 cents per stump and approx- imates $86 per acre. TRACT NO. 3. Seven acres containing 334 white-pine stumps upon pasture land having a clay soil were blasted, piled, and burned at a cost of $200, an average of 60 cents per stump and $28.57 per acre. TRACT NO. 4. Tract No. 4 contained 24.21 acres of level land having a sandy- loam soil within root depth and practically no stones. The outfit used was a capstan stump puller, with 200 feet of 1-inch cable on a drum and an additional length of 150 feet of 1-inch cable, giving the gr. es a: 4, AT i yee Sarena CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE.STATES. Ike) machine a pulling radius of nearly 350 feet. The other tools used were 15 feet of 14-inch double-power cable, 14 feet of 14-inch cable, shovels, axes, a bar, and a mattock. The pine of the tract had been logged about 30 years ago. The hardwood had been cut off seven or eight years ago, except where noted. The hardwood stumps were so rotten that they were very easy to remove. - The tract had been burned repeatedly since logeing. Scarcely any vegetation or sod was left to retard the work of cleaning the soil from the stumps. There was a very scat- tering growth of poplar and bird cherry, averaging about 3 feet in height on the tract. Included in the 290 stumps were 76 “snags’’— stumps that had been burned close to the ground, leaving the roots in the ground. These snags are fully as hard to remove as the average stump. The stumps were piled later in the year by means of a gin pole. Details as to the kinds and sizes of the stumps and particulars relative to the cost of stumping are given in Table IV. TaBLeE [V.—Stumps pulled and cost of labor and material used on tract No, 4. IXINDS AND SIZES OF STUMPS. Diameter of stumps (inches). | Total Kind of stumps. Abe! Sei On| a2 |e 14 | 16 | 18°} 20 |.22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 34 | 36 Ree stumps. Number of stumps: Walnniey jou e as 4 wee va ey eT A ies aie Sra tt 1 4 Silo SOu LO alOy ion | Wa) 07 it 6 | 149 INOEWa yi pimes sae 52 PE GI. Sev =e el a eT A Ll Lig Mints coe aA a RL eta be ed 14 NSC CC Ly eet a Sahai sve = Sao este Nea (aN resin AI ae idee Ne el ho tL ee |e ilal Ma plemaee eae ees Hie PSS alhle Gl ead Sy aE g(a eke SE aaa PTR ao 16 AemMOCk ate: seme ocala ed Fes OS APN UBT cel 70) a ken PASE es pp | Wa ene OR UL 17 TBST ols re ilbeny Lee eCity Meal Ninoaaa il yh el EN a LAU A a Te HA dU LD | Hse 2 SGC) Clee eR I ak PR Nv ee ig FNS ELGAR 8 i a fey a a a SUA oR ay een | ha 2 IPO Ones es Sas Bae ee Ae | ee ae | ane Tg Tae te Mees Sha [| ec fg Sere Pe acm Ay RL LO ea 1 Greemhandsmapleeree: see\leee sess | ea. ss eremNel DROUIN eps ie va Ral eye al 7 he ats li Seca) Na Nae 1 Green white pine.-......|----|-2 alee A ic a es Al aml BEF | hae al eg Da (ap 1 | NOG a epee eee aetaen il Sleds oles oso lal: QELS SOLS 21 Hy Gi AS eT 1 6 | 1214 IN ONAN ONE OL STORE A Ae A | eI eal ae ee a BCID Fe APOE Tal ef [NL foe be eis 76 Motalion2+Jikaenes\ees\ aie | ee eet Boma ealeae ewes Beale clhe |e nee eelt val ab Ts 2 290 LABOR AND MATERIAL USED IN STUMPING. 3 Cost. Days em- Item. ployed. Perdiem.}| Total. Crew: AM AG MiNVE MTOM AOA Ay SieACh sue Ns Ro. Lys eel ASE er 12 $1. 75 $21. 00 PAMTCMNCORCLeAMesuUIM PS ao.days each) 60 Svea le Sale el lee. 12 e705) 21.00 NEE CAMB AIN ELC ATING LE TAP aia a YL AD aera a nes i ee Ie REN 6 4.00 24. 00 (OIGV@ OF, TOWEL OUTS SS etsy Gk oof NER AA Oca 6 150 9. 00 iliimorcradabpinmumos estimate ds). Wilaml et PA yin aly hea ll eT ee ae 70. 00 SOUS cect oe ee SEB plane EE Phe Gen Er VD VSO Te a eG (a Ce | eee ee a 145. 00 EN SPCR] TOP BHO SS PSS es Ee MEAN a Ve lO en Wa 5. 99 ENPOTRLO TORI SHOUTING ay 8) 27 sie EMRE a Py a ae a can eo UP ed eA 50 1 Average diameter of the 214 stumps, 19.85 inches. 2 Average number of stumps per acre, 12. 3 Time of clearing, 6 days, July 28 to Aug. 4, 1913. 14 BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The average height of the pine stumps was 33 inches. The average number pulled each day was 48. The cost of pulling, cleaning, and tipping was 25.9 cents per stump. Dynamite had been used in stump- ing this land, but be- cause of the loose nature of the soil it had proved too expensive. TRACT NO. 5 Tract No. 5 contained 50 acres of very gently rolling pasture land with sandy-loam soil and clay subsoil. The outfit consisted of a capstan stump puller, shovels, axes, and bars. The stumps were piled by the device shown in figure 9. Details of the cost of removing 1,018 stumps from this field are given in Table V. Fig. 9.—Device for piling stumps. TABLE V.—-Cost of stumping tract No. 5. Cost. ene. )Daysem)| ae ployed. |per diem.| Total. Pulling stumps: ~ Le OW a OCCA CUCOO SARE a CeO e CSAC Hear HES Ssae yon Wodh ems cea SdeuabaT 45 $1.7 $78. 7. dra Woh aay ae se Re atone re a en SE Cramer Cee GRE ee AIT EN ay Ee os 3 1.75 5. 25 i aaehal \wAlils) WENO we SAE Re Sade sesso agen Ney ee eh ein lh eter SE nb te Sw 45 4.50 202.50 . Wseorstumpipullerse: S222 Fe ee ee ee a Oe een eee 45 1.50 67.50 Dynamite, 200 pounds, at 122 cents...........-2- ee eccc eee PROSE ASM aoe aS ie eral a es Ge 25.50 Caps and Fy chy ye Ohad SE Ea a Ree Boe ee ee eae Bee wae Ask Slbemene shel terese acer 1.41 Piling and burning stumps: 3 men With teams, 20 dayseach.._.... lis, Ne Sree Cope aa, Natian ea I ore hah 60 4.50 270. 00 LST CUT a eet RAEN peek (ae PERC EG RE aris ba Ca Sol Be A 20 1.75 35. 00 WISE Chie H OO ORY oly px) le elie A eee ee ee eR Os Bi ie Soe es wh ee 20 75 15.00 Mote cee sees Se ae eka je ete See Ee ee BAREIS ance era BaCCH oe. --| 698.91 Average per Acre meta aks. 2. 4a Scie aie ae See esis Sates, oes) ae eee oh 13.98 Average per stump BS Rae ane Peete Se Cc SA are hd ahh [ewe Blech ADL, eetene een . 686 Average per stump for pulling Parsee test anny aoe 1s Saeed ee a a AS UN pre U ne eee eee a 372 Averace:per sbumpator (ulin esi. cpio ce eas eet ee ore | es a ae | Pee .314 The pulling was done in 45 days, an average of 23 per day. The average number of stumps per acre was about 20. ‘This tract was logged 30 years ago. Fires had kept down all underbrush. All logs had been removed. The rooting system of the stumps was shallow. In burning, the stumps were placed about 50 in a pile. They were set on fire at might, and usually the following morning the unburned stumps were repiled. The sizes of 87 white-pine stumps measured CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE STATES. gS) on this tract were as follows: 16-inch, 7; 18-inch, 12; 20-inch, 18; 22-inch, 17; 24-inch, 16; 26-inch, 10; 28-inch, 4; 30-inch, 2; 32-inch, 1. The average diameter was 22 inches and the average height 33 inches. On a neighboring tract, similar in all respects, the stumps were pulled and cleaned under contract for 40 cents each. Here three men with a light team, using a capstan machine, pulled an average of 20 stumps a day. Theman forwhom the stumps were pulled under contract formerly used dynamite of 40 per cent strength and pulled the remaining roots with a team, using a block and line. He also tried heavy blocks and line. All these methods were found less satisfactory than a contract at 40 cents per stump. In piling stumps the device shown in figure 9 was used, and with the same crew an average of 50 stumps a day was piled. TRACT NO. 6. Traet No. 6 contained 1 acre of level land, having a loose, sandy soil. It was cleared in August, 1913. The outfit used was a capstan stump puller. At the time of tree growth this tract was wet; as a result the stumps were shallow rooted. The tract was logged about 35 years ago. Repeated fires since that time had burned off the litter until the roots of the stumps were well exposed, and there was prac- tically no undergrowth or logs on the tract. The sizes of 62 white- pine stumps, selected at random and measured on this tract, were as follows: 12-inch, 4; 14-inch, 8; 16-inch, 9; 18-inch, 12; 20-inch, 11; 22-inch, 9; 24-inch, 9. The average diameter was 18.6 inches and the average number per acre was 78. The low cost per stump of clearing this tract, as shown in Table VI, was due to the small size of the stumps and to the fact that the rooting system was very shallow. On this farm the actual cost of clearing over a hundred acres of land has been $39.30 per acre. About 50 per cent of this land is as described above. The remainder is low, wet, sandy land with cedar, tamarack, and occasional white-pine or Norway-pine stumps. The average number of stumps per acre was about 12, and their average diameter was about 10 inches. TaBLE VI.—Cost of clearing tract No. 6. Daysem CBE Item. )-- ey sear |— ployed. Per diem.| Total. Pulling Sees: ee I en Se ra at Mac cave aig whe Ste ae cae Toe See eee essen s-| 1 $1.75 $d. 25 i Tent a ots By sie ay Sok sialic Sts Se aan. 1 4.50 | 4.50 DISCTOMSTUTA SP ITUeC Cee saree wey fF ho ee Po PEE ESE eo | 1 1.50 1.50 Piling and burning stumps: 2 THOM 5 Bostinge shee eee ae ee SSP A ie a A 5 eee keane 2 Lio 4.20 i EROS a. sos SS ie Se ae Me 4.50 | 5.40 Bue stumps (time estimated): | eee et ee re oe hs ols 2 Sievaeig eae cteeie neces .6 1.78 | 2.10 ae erueme ec 6 4.50] 2.70 TERRY TP Sar VE rae ies Mee eae ee ae a SAM Ramee EOS [ek RRO | 25.65 UND HRL FOES SU DITO aT 0) 2a ee Re (edie a hh epee | .329 | 16 - BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Because of the shallow rooting system and small size of the stumps, most of them could be pulled by a 2,800-pound team without the use of blocks and line. The stumps that could not be pulled by a team were split by a small charge of dynamite, and the remaining pieces were pulled out by a team. The second growth on this land consisted of poplar and bird cherry. Smalllogs were numerous. The various items entering into the cost of clearing were not kept sepa- rately. The superintendent said that they were approximately as follows: Tove. pile, and burn brush per dere: so5s55) =e 52>. eae $10. 00 Mojpuileiand“burnilogs: perlacres- ee Sse eee ee eee 12. 00 Lopull. pile; and, burn stumpsspermaere:o-_ lis. 4° See ee ere ee 17. 30 otalieost: PeraGrese ae see Oe ne ee tos eee eee 39. 30 TRACT NO. 7. Tract No. 7 contained 60 acres, principally of heavy clay soil, in a few places having sandy-loam soil with a heavy clay subsoil 6 inches below the surface. The land was nearly free from stones and was gently rolling. The outfit used was a tripod stump puller. This tract had been logged 20 years before. All the stumps were white pine. There was no undergrowth or logs. The tract had been pas- tured several years and at the time of stumping was covered with a fairly good clover sod. The sizes of 354 white-pine stumps selected at random and meas- ured on this tract were as follows: 12-inch, 2; 14-inch, 2; 16-inch, 11; 18-inch, 28; 20-inch, 37; 22-inch, 35; 24-inch, 88; 26-inch, 65; 28-inch, 42; 30-inch, 21;.32-inch, 13; 34-inch, 6; 36-inch, 4. The average diameter was 24.6 inches. The average height was 36 inches. The total number of stumps pulled was 2,464, the average per day being 54. Thé average number per acre was about 41. Details of the cost are given in Table VII. The stumps on this tract were piled in the fall of the year and will be permitted to dry out for about two years before any attempt will be made to burn them. TasieE VII.—Cost of stumping tract No. 7. | Cost. ‘Days em-) ployed. | Per diem.| Total. Item. Pulling, cleaning, and tipping stumps: | DTVOTIRA BIG Ay SiC AC Le ee eee arm eae as ree ee oie rea en tt oP eet a 92 $1.75 | $161.00 Iinientwithuteam) 46idays CAC hiner erent ee see eee ne eee 92 | 4.50 414. 00 WIRE Mon @oaRYe TINY. oa 5 5 28 So asqooe so nec se ce bose ececocmocec: soRcereace anes 46 | 1.50 69. 00 Pilinctand burning. (estimated) > -eesese = see een eee eee | Saceberet tee bauaees oh 800. 00 Total . Som se ote eee ae ce ee re a aie et Ba 1, 444. 00 INHER [OOOH Ne hs se AOS Ac 55 Ja qobes cn eae der snsedet toseazesguragS: (eet bpeSsss4c0- 24. 07 I Nn CieeAeh | OP ONO OS a5 ake see e soesceeccss sHere per Soo sseeterSsaa: eee a es eR ae - 986 CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE STATES. ie 7, The work of stumping this tract was difficult because of the nature of the soil and size of the stumps. It was done under contract by one of the largest stumping contractors in Michigan. All of the crew were experienced men. The contract price for pulling, cleaning, and tipping the stumps on this tract was $788, or about 32 cents per stump. The actual cost was 26 cents. The average farmer or set- tler, even though he had the equipment, probably could not do the work as cheaply as it was done by this contractor. TRACT NO. 8. Tract No. 8 contained 30 acres of nearly level land with sandy- loam soil. The outfit used was a tripod stump puller. The total number of stumps pulled was 2,464. The average number pulled per day was 137. The average number per acre was about 82. The average diameter per stump was about 24 inches. This work was done under contract at 19 cents per stump for pulling, cleaning, and tipping. The actual cost was 10.2 cents,.as shown in Table VIII. The low cost of stumping was largely due to the sandy nature of the soil and the fact that the stumping crew was experienced. These - stumps were to be piled and burned later in the year. TaBLE VIII.—Cost of stumping tract No. 8.} Cost. Days em- Item. ployed. Perdiem.| Total. Pulling, cleaning, and tipping: Pume mal Sida s Cacheyn errs seo Poet ce ee eee: SE age 36 $1. 75 #63. 00 Prosar narya Toevooksy, IS} Cle wsKeevelde 4209 Soe or aes les eae ees ee Sessa oe 36 4.50 162. 00 (Wisexotumachine ayaa seme is eRe See ot ae Lee SIS Se ee 18 1.50 27.00 RalinoraT dpb uEnimed(CStIMAtC Meee tess. So aed Sos oe eee eens ae eae PEO Re a yea) 6LG 00 TROUT ee occas Ste apie ee ge Oe i a ee [ee [uae 868. 00 PAW CLAS CAD CTPAC KC sem tae fee at ee Seals A WEIN SAY TS Sav iy marcas SANS. a RS Sale eR ee a 28. 93 ACCT AC CMO CEES UULTUINN speeen says rch Tete See ets sy Pat aiels) SIE ShaeiayOstnhe each 8 Syuee tal epatslSieye|laie ie vein’ a) ysi|/is eienete wee ls 302 1 Tract stumped in the fall of 1912. TRACT NO. 9. Tract No. 9 contained 30 acres of nearly level land with sandy-loam soil. The outfit used was a tripod stump puller. The total number of stumps pulled was 2,000. The average number pulled per day was 134. The average number per acre was about 67. The average diameter per stump was about 28 inches. This work was done under contract at 25 cents per stump for pulling, cleaning, and tipping. The actual cost was 10.5 cents, as shown in Table IX. 18 BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. TABLE 1X.—Cost of stumping tract No. 9.' Cost. Item. Days em- - ployed. ‘Per diem. Total. DuMen lod ay S|eachae eg fae ae hee ee EA ae ere ee See Oe on ea eee ee 30 $1.75 $52.50 Zanenwath teams ly days caches sot. 2 peat aie eee ee eee ore eee 30 4.50 135. 00 SCO tL MAChines. ease ee go ese Oe eee Ne ee ope ne a a 15 1.50 22. 50 Piling-and-burning (estimated). 3932. Cs sek: Ee Ree bee aed Se eee ee ee 500. 00 DG Gal eo aoe eee ee ae aie whe eters we ee tes tare ers el renee ee re ae ee | 710.00 INV eTAP EDEL AChE soo 2a o Eee Saic,d Hanae sales etree eo seeae ec pee ees Eee eee 23. 67 IA Verage PeL.StUMIP=.<.2 222. Ssn ce ses Ae eee Se Fee Sees ete Boe ee eee cee el ee aee eae . 309 1 Tract stumped in the summer of 1913. The low cost of stumping was largely due to the sandy nature of the soil and the fact that the stumping crew was experienced. This work was done by the same contractor who stumped tracts Nos. 7 and 8. The stumps were piled and burned later in the year. TRACT NO. 10. Tract No. 10 contained 46 acres of nearly level silt-loam to clay- loam soil. In places the tract was very stony; round cobblestones predominated. The outfit used was a tripod stump puller. This tract had been logged 30 years before. The second growth and logs had been previously removed. The sizes of 114 white-pine stumps selected at random and meas- ured on this tract were as follows: 12-inch, 1; 18-inch, 2; 20-inch, 8; 22-inch, 7; 24-inch, 22; 26-inch, 9; 28-inch, 10; 30-inch, 12; 32-inch, 17; 34-inch, 9; 36-inch, 10; 38-inch, 1; 40-inch, 3; 42-inch, 1; 44-inch, 1; 48-inch, 1. The average diameter was 28.6 inches and the average height 36 inches. The total number of stumps pulled was 1,812. The average number pulled per day was 48. The average number per acre was 39. This work was done under contract at 35 cents per stump for pulling and cleaning.’ The actual cost of pulling and clean- ing was 32 cents per stump, as shown in Table X. TABLE X.—Cost of stumping tract No. 10.' | ¥ i Cost. | Daysem-_ Item. | ployed. | Perdiem. Total. Pulling and cleaning stumps: r BE DMEM a GAYS CAC De eee eee ee eee ae eee rien ener ee 703 $1.75 $132. 12 Li rvseslavatha Genin hse | aes a eG Uae pe Re ne OD eos Ohare 373 4.50} 169.88 TIMATaW GH oe HIOITSCS cot ee eee ie Re arg en Me roe SS Ee Sere sie ee 373 | 5.85 | 220. 84 Use dlamachine 2258 > © 2 et: Pa eee BS ae See et oes eae 373 1.50 | 56. 62 Tipping Siimaaps (CswmaAred Abs CEMLS CACY) eect see ste eee aren re | oe ee ee 54. 36 Piling-and jaenme (estiniated) > an seer ete eee ree ee a eee ee i ee 650. 00 otal cote oc: 2 tet, Cae Ce MRM a MUMS Je Gd oa CE) ee ee | 1,283.82 Average per ACle a7. 22) Sete ee ee SEE Ae eee eee nee wen ee ioe ee ee Mnigot Saisien's 27.91 Average per shtimp ss. - oe eee eee ee (see t tenes cee eteeeee | By! 1 Tract stumped from June 27 to Aug. 12, 1913. CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE STATES. 19 The work was done by an extensive stumping contractor. The stony ground made digging holes under the roots-and cleaning the stumps expensive. The large size of the stumps made their removal costly. The stumps were to be piled later in the year by the use of a log jammer. TRACT NO. 11. The operation on tract No. 11 consisted of pulling 1,319 large white- pine and scattering hardwood stumps on silt-loam to clay-loam soil. In places this tract was very stony. The outfit was a tripod stump puller, the same as that used for tract No. 10, which was adjacent. It had been logged 30 years before. All the second growth and logs had been removed. The average size of the stumps was slightly larger than those on tract No. 10. The average number of stumps pulled per day was 37, and the cost was as shown in Table XI. TABLE X1.—Cost of stumping tract No. 11. Cost Days em-| Item. ployed. ; Perdiem.| Total. Pulling and cleaning stumps: PeIVeT oO OAC aN Sea Memeet 7 Mik vaio nd eta es Wows ae (Shas chs ee | 71,2 $1.75 | $124. 50 sUGprnea Tova tee GU Ta Meee ple er a Nn oes a aE a ae Neen I a a 35.6 4. 50 160. 20 I TAME NALA AUR OV Ss) LOOSEN = Sere Ns ere SIS Se a op Sear eect ee a 35. 6 5. 85 208. 26 USe, Oi Sitialintdyy OWING“ GES oe Sao se bece ore teas oon ce nos uses ee seUeeeeaeeo| 35. 6 1.50 53. 40 Dynamite 40iper cent strength), 500 pounds, at 13 cents..........-.2.)2-.--2.-2-|-2222----- | 65. 00 CeHOS PING INS. b od 2c 0 ah RCO Bape ier oe adss soa Sac eure oceans SUSheA se occ Eeneeeeesel ores aace | 2.51 iPailineran deb unrmimer (estimated) a Reese Sono aoe eae once eee ee eee ee a lee | 450.00 TOU Es oS OSs Ss Ces e He em tS ae Las ree ees Oe ee ar SPS Ree ot Pe a Ogee 1, 063. 87 ASHORNEO DEL SHOUD] As he ee nae ree CNS PN est etl ean tly | Me ace 806 1 Time of stumping, Aug. 12 to Sept. 26, 1913. A small charge of dynamite was placed under the larger stumps in order to split and loosen them. In commenting on the use of dyna- mite here, the contractor said: ‘‘This is the only job in my seven years of stumpmg where it would pay to use dynamite under nearly every stump.” The owner of this tract had previously used dynamite in stumping on his land. TRACT NO. 12. Tract No. 12-contained 40 acres of nearly level land with sandy- loam soil. The outfit was the same as for tract No. 11. The total number of stumps pulled was 2,400. The total number of stumps per acre was 60. The average number of stumps pulled per day was 100. The stumps averaged somewhat smaller than in the two pre- ceding tracts, and the soil was sandy loam and free from stones. This work was done at a contract price of 18 cents per stump for pullmng, cleaning, and tippimg. The actual cost was 14 cents per stump, as shown in Table XII. bo 0) BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. TaBLE XII.—Cost of stumping tract No. 12.) Cost. tient Days em- ; ployed. Perdiem.} Total. — Pulling, cleaning, and tipping stumps: ZNO ZAGAV SCAG. ep ten see ee Re Oe eee eee eee 48 $1.75 $84. 00 ZIMen withybeams. 124 CaySiea Cis yen ee Se eee ny ea sh ee 48 4,50 216. 00 Use of machine: ta2 3. . peas hss th See bee ee RU OEE ee ie 24 1.50 36. 00 Piling and) buring (estimated) 2 ees eae ee Be eee ee eee ee 432.00 PO Gal as ee has EF ae Ra tec ea te ee ne ee a A CORON | ane ee 768. 00 ASV CIALC PEL aClOner. mS See ee oe eee eee ee ae ee Re Pope ees sat eee yee eee 19. 20 Average per stump:.......-...-- eR P ETS Pied, ol eee ty OS Bee oe eee | Bee | es . 32 1 Stumped in the spring of 1913. TRACT NO. 13. Tract No. 13 contained 20 acres of practically level pasture land having a sandy, and in places a gravelly, surface soil. The subsoil was generally below root depth. This land had been logged 25 years before. There were no logs or underbrush. The outfit used was a tri- pod stump puller. Stumps to the number of 1,293 were pulled, piled, and burned at a contract price of $500, or 38.7 centsperstump. By means of the tripod Fic. 10.—Tripod stump piler (at left) and tripod stump puller (at piler shown in figure Sane 10 all these stumps were put into four piles. The stumps were pulled in November, 1912. The sizes of 98 white-pine stumps selected at random and meas- ured on this tract were as follows: 12-inch, 6; 14-inch, 8; 16-inch, 8; 18-inch, 5; 20-inch, 10; 22-inch, 16; 24-inch, 16; 26-inch, 11; 28-inch, 5; 30-inch, 8; 32-inch, 2; 34-inch, 1; 38-mch, 2. The average diameter was 23.2 inches. Several other owners in this neighborhood had contracted to have stumps pulled, cleaned, and tipped for 25 cents each. The general clearing conditions on these contracts were the same as for tract No. 10. TRACT NO. 14. Tract No. 14 contained 7.4 acres of very gently rolling pasture land, having a loose, sandy-loam soil. The outfit used was a tripod CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE STATES. Oil machine mounted on two wheels. This tract had been logged 45 years before. There were no logs or underbrush. The sizes of 98 white-pine stumps selected at random and meas- ured on this tract were as follows: 16-inch, 7; 18-inch, 10; 20-inch, 3; 22-inch, 9; 24-inch, 15; 26-inch, 14; 28-inch, 8; 30-inch, 6; 32- inch, 7; 34-inch, 4; 36-inch, 6; 38-inch, 3; 40-inch, 1;-42-inch, 4; 48-inch, 1. The average diameter was 26.77 inches. The high cost of stumping this tract, shown in Table XIII, was principally due to the inexperience of the contractor and crew and to the fact that only one light team was used. The contract price for pulling, cleaning, and tipping the stumps was 50 cents each. The actual cost was 56.3 cents. The owner of the tract was utilizing the roots for fuel. The total number of stumps was 204 and the macnn per acre 28. The number pulled per day was 15. TaBLE XIEI.—Cost of stumping tract No. 14.' Cost. Days em-|_ pata Item. ployed. Perdiem.| Total. Pulling, cleaning, and tipping: i) WOW. SS SUS Ae SoS ae D Gea el TERI SEI a eta ae nese 134 $1. 00 $13. 25 Iya iezT alias Sic sea eas ea ns Cet ee Seaee se GG CL Ac et ina ao een a | 134 1,75 22.19 Ik Teme! Nymlila Ree HOON = BS clei Ne al omiec Baie ee ei Seo) See ete eee 13% 4.50 59. 62 Wisekoremlachnim enya nes mage wat. Ae ea URS De ee a UU ee oe Sod phe ek | 13% 1.50 19. 87 Pilingandaburmings (estimated) 222 52 eee oer on ices tea BO Reus aes ee Se eteais ee 70. 00 HO) ces ee anaes SS SHBG BEA Str Ral MOSES OC AT ERTS Re eae | ie pe ates eed Bara ave TT al 184. 93 PANEL CORO C IgG CLO se daa aa we heirs Gage eishis SCR Os Vy Mets RUIN Sais ick NE ee alan ee GC ie 25. 05 PASVETA GE HDCING CUI Mate eae nee oe aie Socal NE eT eee [son Foeseenl eee Ged ane . 907 1 Time of stumping, July 19 to Aug. 8, 1913. TRACT NO. 15. Tract No. 15 contained 40 acres of very gently rolling land, having a sandy soil. The clearing was done in the spring of 1912. The outfit consisted of a tripod stump puller, two teams, and five men. This outfit and crew pulled 2,132 stumps in 204 days, an average of 104 stumps per day. This tract had an average of 90 stumps per acre, of which 20 were Norway pine and 70 were white pine. The clearing was done at a contract price of $30 an acre. The price included the delivery of the Norway-pine stumps to a turpentine plant 3 miles distant from the tract, the hauling of nearly one-third of the white-pine stumps to build fences, and: the burning of the re- mainder of the white-pine stumps. The Norway-pine stumps had been burned to the surface of the ground on nearly 10 acres of this tract. A total of 60 cords of Norway-pine stumps was delivered at the plant. The price received was $5 per cord of 4,000 pounds. It took an average of 10 Norway-pine stumps to the cord. Two cords of stumps per acre were obtained. After deducting the amount received for the stumps, the net cost of clearing the tract was $900, 29, BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. or $22.50 per acre. The contractor still considers $30 a fair price, but owing to circumstances and bad weather wages were not made upon this work. In another case in this neighborhood the owner of 640 acres of land gave all the Norway-pine stumps on it for the clearing of 15 acres ready for the plow. TRACT NO. 16. On a tract of 35 acres of nearly level land, having a sandy-loam surface soil and a clay subsoil, which had been logged 30 years before, 1,050 white-pine stumps, averaging 26 inches in diameter, were pulled with a tripod machine at a contract price of 334 cents per stump for pulling, cleaning, and tipping. TRACT NO. 17. On another tract of 105 acres of nearly level land, having a sandy- loam surface soil and a clay subsoil averaging 18 inches below the surface, which had been logged 25 to 40 vears before, 7,000 white-pine stumps, averaging 22 inches in diameter, were pulled with a tiipod machine at a contract price of 25 cents per stump for pulling, cleaning, and tipping. These stumps were hauled into fence rows for 18 cents per stump, contract price. TRACT NO. 18. On a tract of 10 acres of gently rolling land having a sandy and gravelly loam surface soil and in places a clay subsoil, which had been logged 25 years before, 600 white-pine stumps, averaging 18 inches in diameter, were pulled with a tripod machine at a contract price of 30 cents each for pulling, cleaning, and tipping. TRACT NO. 19. On an adjoining tract of 16 acres, with soil the same as in tract No. 18, and using the same outfit, 330 stumps were pulled, cleaned, and tipped for 30 cents each. The contractor took both jobs at a flat rate of 30 cents per stump. TRACT NO. 20. Tract No. 20 contained 18 acres of cedar-swamp land that had been very severely burned in 1908 and 1911. The soil varied from a clay loam to a heavy clay. Practically all the roots had been burned off. The stumps rested on top of the ground. One horse could easily pull nearly every stump on this tract. The few stumps that were too firmly rooted to be pulled by a horse were loosened by the use of dynamite. The number of trees and stumps per acre on adjoining similar tracts was about 300. The stumping and part of the piling was done from July 15 to October 1, 1912. The remainder of the piling and all of the burning was done after April 12, 1913. The work of clearing was thorough. The details of cost are shown in Table XIV. | CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE STATES. De TaBLE XIV.—Cost of labor and material used in-clearing tract No. 20. Cost. Days em- Item. ployed. Pee sf diem Total. Stumping and piling: (enrankwashlaboremandnanrivier: seems sates ye eee ee et ee Cy eae eae 60 $1.75 $105. 00 ieIMaAnwasvaborerandepowGer mane sli eee es eee 60 Ls 105. 00 UE OLSCMS ee ee eau te ee aa ciate West aa pe BGA Sook UO eee 60 1. 25 75. 00 ALO Galdlab OR COSLs ae essa ease sie sete eis oid Sia ey aicdee arco WE Big Sods PP le ar Dy a a i ae 285. 00 Dynamite (40:percent strength), 50 pounds; at 20\cents:-. 9.2... 2. 22 |- alee]. 2S 10. 00 Fuse and caps........... Ae SACRE CLE Re iY LORE Nene i cetera ay. | eed, 75 Burning stumps and completing clearing: UGTA Tae ee ee eco ga rehire ays Sei Rega mine Baie BEI ME Ree 7 Oey each 18 1.75 31.50 amaniwatheteame se... 2405-42-22 BST SEPA Ui ih GL das AN NL ee Specs the aga 18 4,25 76. 50 BN Gell pepe ee ete RE I oe ke Ee SA] Me oe Sah Creat ya ye ale CS ie 403. 75 PASVICT.AL CREOS TSCA ACES Aa tars ttn Wek Or aie lai Mian A are) obey Gu ae Wee Maden a eS Oo | 22. 43 This swamp clearing is typical of the cost of clearmg much of the severely burned swamp land of Cheboygan and Presque Isle Coun- ties, Mich. DISPOSAL OF STUMPS AFTER PULLING. Where medium-sized stumps have been well blasted the problem of stump disposal is relatively simple. It is considered cheaper to start several small, conveniently located fires in the holes made by blasting the stumps and then haul the remaining pieces to these fires than it is to build a few large piles and not set them on fire until all the stumps are piled. ‘ Where the stumps have been pulled by a stump puller without the use of powder the problem of disposal is more difficult. The general opinion throughout this region is that the cost of disposal practically equals the expense of pulling. Ali data secured seem to verify the accuracy cf this estimate. In the early days of clearing, the stumps were hauled into rows to serve as fences. At the present time very few such fences are bemg built. The usual contract price for haulng stumps into fences is 15 to 18 cents each. PILING STUMPS. Large stumps are very hard to pile. Some owners split the stumps by the use of a small charge of dynamite placed either in a hole bored into the base of the stump or in a notch chopped between two promi- nent roots. Often the heart of the stump is sufficiently decayed so that the charge may be placed in it. A smali quantity of dynamite used in this manner will usually split the stump as well as a much larger charge would have done before the stump was pulled. By using a tripod, such as is shown in figure 10, with legs 40 or 45 feet long and equipped with a double block and 150 feet of half- inch cable, the stumps can be piled 25 or 30 feet high. This tripod was used on tract No. 18. Another good method of piling is to use 24 BULLETIN 91, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. a piler with a swinging boom, as shown in figure 9. The mast of this pier is 30 feet high and the swinging boom 25 feet long. In using this boom piler the mast is set so that it leans slightly toward the pue. This causes the boom to swing to the center each time. This puler was used in clearing tract No. 5. Dropping stumps into a fire by means of piling devices is impracticable, because the heat soon becomes so intense that the pilmg operations must be abandoned. The work of pilmg stumps could be hastened materially if some satisfactory tripping device could be used. The usual self-tripping tongs and rope trips frequently catch on projecting roots and drop the load before it is at the desired position. OTHER WAYS OF DISPOSING CF STUMPS. In the past a considerable number of Norway-pine stumps have been used by turpentine manufacturers for distillation. The present low price of turpentine and naval stores has made the distillation of Norway-pine stumps unprofitable, and none of the turpentine plants are now in operation. ‘The white-pine stump contains too small a quantity of the properties of the Norway-pine stump to make it of any value. SUMMARY AND SUGGESTIONS. There are approximately 11,954,628 acres of logged-off land in Michigan, 10,792,100 acres in Wisconsin, and 11,768,000 acres in Minnesota. A large part of this area-will make good agricultural land if cleared and properly managed. In many localities poor methods make the clearing of this land unprofitable. Cutting and burning the second growth pasturing for several years, and keeping down all sprout growth is the most economical method of handling all logged-off lands before stumping them. Explosives play an impor- tant part in clearing land. On the heavier soils dynamite, with 20 to 30 per cent of nitroglycerin or its equivalent, is to be preferred. Cooperative buying in large quantities is recommended. Stump pullers reduce the cost of stumping on lighter soils. On the heavier soils the difference between the cost of clearing by explosives and by the use of stump pullers is very slight. The cost of clearmg the better grade of white-pine logged-off land will average $10 per acre for disposing of the brush and $25 to $30 per acre for disposing of the stumps, making the cost of clearing $35 to $40 per acre. Some green hardwood lands and unburned swamp lands will cost as much as $100 per acre. Some of the poorer jack- pine lands can be cleared for $5 per acre or less.'. The cost of dispos- ing of the stumps after pulling practically equals the cost of pulling. 1 Those contemplating farming the jack-pine lands are urged to study Smith, C. Beaman, Clover farming on the sandy jack-pine lands of the North, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Farmers’ Bulletin 323, 24 p., 1 fig., 1908. CLEARING LAND IN THE LAKE STATES. 25 A tripod or a boom piler is recommended to facilitate piling and burning. | The settler with little capital and without experience who expects to make a farm out of a tract. of logged-off land will find his problem a most trying one. The experiences of those who have attempted it are not encouraging. The man who starts farming with even 10 acres of his farm cleared will be much more likely to succeed than the man who begins on a tract covered with second growth and stumps. The former will have land on which to grow hay and other crops the first year. He can devote his extra time the first three or four years to the disposal of the second growth on the remainder of his tract. By seeding this, he will increase the area of his pasture or hay land materially and will be employing the best preparatory means of reducing the cost of stumping later. The settler should not forget that the cheapest and best land clearing is always done by experienced men with proper equipment. For these reasons it is recommended that, in all localities where land companies are selling lands to settlers, no tract of land be sold unless it contains at least 10 acres of land cleared ready for the plow. 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