Close Utilization of Timber 25 



BREAKAGE OF BOLES IN FELLING 



The loss through breakage is largely due to the carelessness 

 of the individual saw crews in felling trees on stumps and across 

 down timber. A further loss usually occurs in cutting broken 

 timber into logs, by making the saw-cut too far below the break. 

 Where the break is not square across, it is often possible to obtain 

 added material by cutting the log so as to include a portion of the 

 broken end. This should always be done on large timber where 

 the extra section that can be secured is at least equal to one-half 

 the diameter of the log. (See Plate II, Fig. 1.) 



CROOKED TREES 



Crooked trees are common in yellow pine forests and greater 

 care than is generally the rule should be given to cutting them 

 into logs. 



The tree should be divided into log lengths so that slight 

 crooks will come on the ends of logs. If the sweep is pronounced, 

 a section containing it should be cut from the tree and left in 

 the forest. 



Crooked logs are not only more difficult than straight ones to 

 load and unload from cars, but they require several times longer 

 to get them onto the carriage and to saw. As a result the output 

 is often reduced from 20 to 75 per cent, thereby materially 

 increasing the cost of the lumber to the manufacturer over that 

 from straight logs. 



The loss in sawing at the mill due to crookedness is greater on 

 small than on large logs because a higher percentage of the small 

 log is wasted in squaring. 



FORKED TREES 



Waste which usually accompanies the cutting of logs from 

 forked trees is due largely to the following causes : 



(1) Felling so that one fork of the tree is bedded in the 

 ground, in which case the sawyers follow the line of least resist- 

 ance and leave the log uncut. (Plate III, Fig. 1.) This can be 

 avoided in most instances by felling the timber so that the forks 

 will fall flat. 



(2) Cutting too far below the crotch. This is well illustrated 

 in the trees shown in Plate III, Fig. 1, where the cut could have 

 been made seven feet nearer the crotch ; in Plate III, Fig. 2, and 



v.-.-. 



