156 FARM FORESTRY 



the severed corner. If the tree settles back and pinches the 

 saw, wedges made from hardwood or iron are driven into the 

 kerf back of the saw. This lifts the tree off the saw and helps 

 to throw the tree in the desired direction. It is dangerous to 

 attempt to throw a tree against a strong wind. As soon as 

 the tree starts to move the saw should be drawn out of the 

 kerf. There is danger in standing directly behind a tree that 

 is falling, because it is apt to jump or kick back many feet. 

 Standing near the stump one can readily judge the direction 

 the tree is falling. It is safer to stand near the stump and 

 to move back a few feet to avoid the jumping of the trunk 

 than to run without looking. Often limbs broken off the tree 

 or from neighboring trees will fall both before and after 

 the tree is down, and should be looked out for. 



After the tree is down the limbs are chopped off with 

 the ax smooth with the trunk and the lengths of the prod- 

 ucts desired are marked off. This should be done with care 

 so that the most possible can be made out of the tree. Usually 

 the butt log in a sound tree contains the best material. If the 

 butt is found to be decayed it must be cut or butted off. It 

 is best to measure the entire length of the merchantable part 

 of the trunk and then decide how it can be worked up to the 

 best advantage. Defects can be sawed across so that they 

 will come at the ends of logs. If the trunk has a crook it is 

 possible to reduce its effect by cutting at the middle of the 

 bend. A long log will usually bring a better price than two 

 short logs of equal length. The lengths of the logs are 

 determined usually by the market or the product desired. The 

 whole trunk of the tree should be utilized and not part left 

 in the woods. The upper log though full of knots can often 

 be made into a tie or fence post. The products having been 

 marked off they are cut by means of the cross-cut saw. 



The logs must then be dragged or skidded out to the 

 roads. This is done by horses, a chain being looped about 

 the large end of the log or fastened to tongs. Often the 



