92 



LOGGING 



fallers may be assigned to definite bounds in order to facilitate 

 the measurement of the cut timber. 



NOTCHING 



A wedge-shaped notch or undercut is made on the trunk in 

 the direction of fall, to guide the tree and to prevent the bole 

 from splitting before it is completely severed from the stump. 

 It has a horizontal base extending shghtly past the center of the 



Fig. 23. — The Undercut on a Large Douglas Fir Tree. The fallers are standing 

 on spring boards to enable them to make the cut above the root swelling. 

 Washington. 



tree if felhng is done with the ax, and from one-fifth to one- 

 fourth of the diameter when felling is done with the saw. The 

 undercut on trees that lean heavily in the felling direction is 

 made deeper than usual in order to insure a clean break. On 

 those that lean away from the felling direction a small notch is 

 cut because it gives the wedges greater power. In felling large 

 redwood the sloping face of the undercut is sometimes made 

 below the horizontal cut instead of above it in order to avoid 



