312 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. [Feb. 



round, and the few which were straight all proceeded from one side. 

 It was impossible that this tree, if it had lived, could have made a 

 fine or healthy tree. 



I should strongly advise all who contemplate planting, to ask 

 from the nurseryman a guarantee that the young plants are free 

 from this defect. — Your most obedient servant, Alex. Nesbitt. 



[The roots sent were twisted just as they had come out of the 

 pot. We sympathize with our correspondent, but the practice 

 can hardly be stigmatized as fraudulent. The only reason 

 nurserymen can have for keeping such plants in pots at all, is 

 because they are not thoroughly hardy. In removing plants from 

 pots to the open ground, care should be taken to uncoil or spread 

 the roots out as much as possible.] 



THE SAW V. AXE. 



SYR, — " Kirkcudbright," writing in the journal for January, at 

 page 205, on tree-cutting, says cutting with the axe is the 

 best and most economical to the timber merchant. Now few 

 practical foresters will agree with that statement. Granted that 

 chopping all round and dishing down will give a little length 

 in the centre of the tree, what is their use when you come to 

 convert the tree ? The end of the plank or board must be cut 

 square, hence there is loss instead of gain, especially if the 

 timber is large. Besides, if cut in that way, where will the tree 

 fall ? Certainly to the heavy side. The saw is cheaper and better 

 both for the seller and buyer. In the case of good ash or other 

 plank timber, with the saw you can get the full benefit of the roots 

 where they stand out at the surface of the ground. You can fell a 

 tree M'ith the axe properly set in and sunk square on the face a few 

 inches deeper; then saw, cut nearly where you like, by inserting the 

 saw in back, with a good iron socket wedge with wooden plug in 

 head, to save the axe in driving and keep the saw free. The best 

 form of saw is the pit-shape ; being broadest at the feed end, it 

 works stiff and steady, and is easily drawn back, never requiring 

 more then one man. At the teeth end you may put on as many 

 men as are necessary for the size of the tree. Both handles ought to 

 be cranked up about two inches, to keep the hands clear of the ground. 

 After many years' practice both in Scotland and England, I feel 

 certain the saw is the best for large timber on fairly level ground. 

 Small timber on hiUy or rough groiind may be felled cheaper with 

 the axe. The after-growth from timber is not worth much con- 

 sideration for wicker-work, being generally very rough and only fit 

 for firewood. It seldom lives long. — I am, etc., Hampshire. 



January "[^th, ISiii. 



