136 MANAGEMENT AND SALE OF TIMBER. 



than by axe cutting merely. Considerable difficulty is always 

 experienced in felling large trees growing in a reclining position, 

 by the weight of the upper part of the tree on the side to which 

 it inclines, causing it to give way before the saw is sufficiently ad- 

 vanced, resulting in the splitting of the trunk. To prevent this, 

 a strong chain is used, provided with a screw and key attached 

 to one end of it. This screw works through the links of the 

 chain in any convenient length to suit the thickness of the tree. 

 Tt is applied round the base of the tree, close to the saw 

 cat, and when properly tightened entirely prevents splitting. 

 A system of axe cutting, possessing considerable merit, is prac- 

 tised extensively upon the estates of the Marquis of Lothian, 

 in Eoxburghshire. The axe used for the purpose is long and 

 narrow in the face, which enables the woodman, in the act of 

 cutting to coop out the stool, so that when the tree is felled the 

 stock is left in the form of a basin, in which water stands after 

 the first shower of rain falls. The advantages of the stools being 

 left in this form are that in a very short time they are quite 

 rotten and out of sight, which imparts a neat and level surface 

 to the ground, and frees it of what is often experienced a barrier 

 in replanting, and hurtful to the plants. In spite, however, of 

 the most dexterous axemanship which is there practised, there 

 is a comparative waste of timber over that of saw felling, the 

 greater, of course, in proportion to the diameter of the tree. 



A proper mode of measuring is an important element in the 

 disposal of timber. Having adopted various methods, and made 

 several experiments upon measuring standing and lying timber, 

 the following is the practice adopted by the writer, and which 

 he believes to be the best, being simple, easily practised, and fair 

 between purchaser and exposer. 



First, in measuring Pine and Fir timber lying upon the 

 ground, he measures from the base of the tree up to where it 

 girths 26 inches over the bark, or 24 inches under the bark 

 girths the tree at the centre or mean distance between the 

 base and the first named girth, abating on this second girth 

 one inch for every foot of girth as allowance for bark. The 

 fourth part of this girth is the side of the square in inches, and 

 the contents are found at a glance by the sliding rule, or Hoppus' 

 timber measurer. In Ash timber, the trunk only (without the 

 limbs) is measured, and is followed out to 26 inches over the 

 bark. The tree is measured in as many lengths as may be 

 thought proper, but none of them less than 6 feet — allowance 

 of one inch to the foot in girth. Elm, Sycamore, Birch, Willow, 

 and Poplar are measured similar to the Ash. In Oak, the 

 system is somewhat different ; the trunk proper is measured 

 out like the others to 26 inches over the bark ; it is also girthed 

 in sections as the others ; but, in addition to the main trunk, 



