192 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



one, through the breaking of a chain, fell into the river at right 

 angles to its course, most of its branches resting on the meadow 

 on the other side. Five men set to work, the tree was cross-cut 

 on the opposite bank close to the water's edge, the lever was 

 attached, and in four hours the main part of the bole was laid 

 high and dry on the spot where it was meant to fall. The log 

 measured 45 feet long by 22 inches ^-girth, equal to 151 cubic feet. 



Five years ago a westerly gale uprooted a good many of these 

 poplars, which all fell into the river, many feet of their tops lying 

 on the opposite meadows. The lever was brought into action, and 

 they were hauled to land at the rate of about one tree per day. 



General Remarks. — When it becomes necessary to fix a post 

 into the ground for a holdfast, it is, especially on marshy ground, 

 sometimes a matter of considerable difficulty to make it firm 

 enough to withstand the very great strain brought on it when the 

 lever is at work. A plan I found to work admirably is that shown in 



Fig.5. 



the accompanying sketch (Fig. 5). The lever chains may be of any 

 pattern, provided they are strong enough and have got a hook at one 

 end and a ring or big link at the other, so that they may be easily 

 coupled ; but it is imperative to have, next the lever, a length of 

 chain with equal sized links, such that the pulling hooks may fit 

 into any of them. The chains we use are made of \ inch and 

 -| inch iron, with links about 3 inches long ; we have also a wire 

 rope, 25 yards long, which is lighter and more easily hoisted into 

 the top of a tree than the chains. For very heavy pulling I have 

 found it advisable to put coupling C into the second hole from the 

 wood instead of into the central hole, and to put the pulling chains 

 into the first or nearest hole on each side. 



I can recommend the lever with the greatest confidence as being 

 an instrument of great power and real practical value in forest 

 work. 



