no TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



,: Recently, however, horizontal reciprocating saws driven by 

 electric motors have been used for tree felling, we believe with 

 very great success. In this case electric power can be generated 

 at any desired point, and carried by means of wires to any place 

 in a wood or hillside that may be necessary with very little loss. 

 The tree-feller usually consists of a horizontal reciprocating saw 

 arranged with a long stroke, and working in suitable guides, 

 the working parts being made light but very strong, so as to be 

 capable of being readily moved from tree to tree. The saw is 

 driven from a crankshaft, but, in lieu of fast and loose pulleys, 

 an eletric motor is coupled directly to the shaft and speeded 

 down to the correct number of revolutions. The form of motor 

 employed should be designed to give a high output with as light 

 a weight as possible. For this purpose a four-pole type of motor, 

 with slotted drum armature, is often used. 



In addition to rapidity of work, a tree-feller has a great 

 advantage over the axe in being capable of cutting the tree 

 close to the ground, and thus saving a considerable amount of 

 timber and, at the same time, in many cases it saves the cost of 

 blasting the stumps. 



As regards the cost of electric power for this particular work, 

 it will pay well in most cases to generate it by steam, but, of 

 course, where water power is available, it should be made use 

 of, as an immense economy is at once effected, and the current 

 can be carried any reasonable distance without much loss. 



Where many trees have to be felled, especially in isolated and 

 difficult situations, we now look for considerable development in 

 this connection. — hidiaii Forester, from Timber Trades Journal. 



Preservative against Wood Splitting. 



The firm of Daniel Lorach, of Mulhouse (Alsace), has, after 

 many years' experiments, introduced into commerce a most 

 efficacious means for the prevention of wood splitting under the 

 style of " Preservative against Wood Splitting," which possesses 

 the following great advantages : — 



It can be applied in the most simple way by means of a 

 brush, drying immediately into a homogeneous surface, and at 

 the same time it is both elastic and resistant, thus taking the 

 place of the bark. 



It can be used just as efficaciously with freshly hewn trees as 



