;ix. given just as it falls into the previous cut, the eye of the ax being 

 thrown against the tree and the edge outward. The laborer then steps 

 either forward or backward and hews the second side of the angular 

 face (fig. 2), taking care to leave no 

 rounded surface in the center where 

 the two sides join. 



On these flat surfaces the incisions 

 for the gutters are then made, one a 

 right-handed and the other a 'left- 

 handed cut (fig. 3). In making these 

 cuts the ax is held so that the outer < 

 point of the edge is lower than the' 

 inner point, while the eye of the ax 

 is lower than the edge. By a single 

 blow a cut is made the full width of 

 one side of the face, this cut being 

 about one-quarter of an inch deep 

 at the outer edge of the face and a 

 little deeper at the center. The cuts 

 should be at least one inch apart at 



the center of the face, to prevent FIG. 2.-Making the second half of a face. 



choking between the two gutters by chips and " scrape," and for con- 

 venience in cleaning the gutters when the cups are dipped. 



Zinc nails. The cup and gutter system has been most favorably 

 received by the owners of mills where the timber is sawed after it- 

 has been turpentined. The only ob- 

 jection they make is to the use of 

 iron nails for hanging the cups. To 

 meet this objection zinc nails are now 

 manufactured for use with the cups. 

 Experiments have shown that if such 

 a nail is left in the tree no damage 

 whatever is done to a saw that strikes 

 it, because the metal is so soft. 



ERRORS MADE IN USING THE CUP AND 

 GUTTER SYSTEM. 



Gutters. In making the incisions 

 for the gutters the eye of the broadax 

 is frequently turned down too much. 

 The outer half of a gutter inserted in 

 such an incision lies almost at a right angle to the trunk of the tree, 

 and hence forms a shelf rather than a trough (fig. 5, B). From such 

 a gutter the resin frequently runs off along the outer edge. Further- 

 more, such a gutter is easily forced out when the dipper is removing 



FIG. 3. Making incisions for the gutters. 



