B
back cut. In the process of felling a tree, the final cut, made on the opposite side of the tree from the face cut (or undercut).
backfire. Controlled fire set ahead of a forest fire to create a firebreak by reducing fuel in the path of the main fire.
basal area. 1. The cross?sectional area of the bole of a tree, 41/2 ft above the ground. Basal area = diameter of tree squared, times .005454. 2. The sum of all the individual tree basal areas for a given land area. Commonly expressed as sq ft of basal area (a well?stocked, 40?year?old Douglas?fir forest may have 200?250 sq ft of basal area).
BGR. Acronym for "Big Game Repellent," a putrified?egg product originally developed by Weyerhaeuser Company scientists; now sold under various trade names, as a repellent to animal browse.
Biltmore stick. A stick graduated in such a way that the diameter of a standing tree may be estimated when the stick is held out at right angles to the main axis of the tree, and at a distance from the eye for which the stick is graduated (usually 25 in).
biological control. Control of plants, diseases, and animal pests by the use of natural enemies.
biomass. The sum total of biological material that exists on a given land area. For trees and plants, this can include leaves, branches, stems, and roots.
blaze. A mark placed on a standing tree to call special attention to the tree.
blowdown. Trees that have been knocked over by wind.
blue stain. A fungus discoloration, predominantly bluish, but sometimes grayish, blackish, or brownish in appearance; confined almost exclusively to sapwood; common in pines.
B.M. Bench mark, a point of known elevation usually referenced to sea level.
board foot. A volume measure of lumber, being I ft wide, I ft long, and I in thick (12 in x 12 in x I in = 144 cu in).
bole. The main trunk of a tree.
bolts (boltwood). Short material to go into turned wood products: furniture parts, shingles, shakes, arrows, etc.
boomer. Slang name for mountain beaver.
borrow pit. In roadbuilding, an area where fill material is "borrowed," and used in road sections where the normal excavation process does not generate adequate fill material.
breast height. 4V2 ft above ground level. See d.b.h.
broadcast burn. A controlled bum, where the fire is allowed to proceed over an entire area. Sometimes called a slash burn
broadleaf. See hardwood.
browse. Small bushes, sprouts, herbaceous plants, small trees, etc., that wildlife feed on.
brush. Commonly refers to undesirable shrubs and other low?lying vegetation.
bucking. Cutting a felled tree into specified log lengths.
budburst. In woody plants, the time in the spring when flower or leaf buds begin their annual growth. Syn. budbreak.
budcap. A piece of paper or other suitable material attached to a young seedling, covering the terminal bud, to prevent animal browse.
buffer. A zone or strip of land that shields one area from another. Commonly used along streams or as visual barriers. bug kill. Tree or timber stands killed by insects.
bunk.
Supports on a railroad car or logging truck on which the logs rest.
2. A bed in a logging camp.
burl. An abnormal growth on a tree stem, with wood tissue growing in an irregular pattern. Usually circular in shape, these growths are widely sought for their interesting grain pattern.
burning, methods of.
burn, controlled. Any burning that a landowner starts intentionally to accomplish a particular purpose, and over which he or she exercises some surveillance or control.
burn, prescribed. The application of fire to land under conditions of weather, soil moisture, and time of day, that will accomplish specific silvicultural, wildlife, grazing, or fire?hazard?reduction purposes.
butt. The base of a tree or log.
butt cut. The first log above the stump. Syn. butt log.
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Forest Glossary