244 FELLING AND CONVERSION OF TIMBER. 



present the least difficulty in conversion. The species, and 

 the greatest possible degree of straightness, are the chief points 

 to attend to. 



In some cases it is necessary to leave the poles quite un- 

 shortened, as for hop-poles, where the branches are not lopped 

 off close to the stem, but snags of branches are left to assist 

 the climbing of the hops. Sometimes the tops are left, as a 



Peeling-irons. 



Fig. 149. Common. Fig. 150. Black Forest. Fig. ir>l.- -Upper Bavaria. 



proof that the poles were not dead when felled. Clothes-props 

 also, and props for trees, are left forked at the top. The top 

 is removed from cart-poles. 



The dimensions of the different assortments vary locally. 



Thus, hop-poles may be between 16 and 30 feet (5 and 10 

 meters) in length. Telegraph-posts should be 7 to 10 inches 

 (18 to 25 centimeters) in diameter, at 1 yard from the butt- 

 end ; hop-poles 2J to 5 inches (6 to 12 centimeters). Hop-poles 

 generally are felled deep into the ground with the axe, whilst 





