MEASUREMENT OF TIMBER 189 



which the tree is falling. When felling uphill the most 

 dangerous place is behind the stump. 



5. Trees must be felled in such a way as to reduce wastage 

 to the minimum. They must therefore be cut as close to the 

 ground as possible, and the saw should be used in preference 

 to the axe, the latter only being used to trim the butt in 

 readiness for the saw, and to cut a notch in the side on which 

 the tree is to fall. 



6. Where coppice is cut with the intention of obtaining 

 a further crop of coppice shoots the surface of the cut should 

 be left as smooth as possible. The value of coppice in most 

 parts of England is now, however, so low, that too much time 

 should not be spent on trimming the stools. 



Each tree, when felled, must be converted into the most 

 valuable material obtainable. Thus, if logs and pitwood are 

 saleable no tree should be cut up into pitwood if it is possible 

 to sell it as a log, as the price per cubic foot is much less 

 when it is sold as pitwood. Logs of broad-leaved trees should 

 ordinarily be cut off at the point where they are 6 inches in 

 diameter, while conifers are usually run out to 3 inches, but 

 the sizes vary in different localities. The woodcutter should 

 be given instructions as to what are the proper sizes of the 

 various classes of produce. 



When the cutting is completed all produce should be 

 ranked up according to its quality and size, and should be 

 sold as early as possible, so as to get the ground clear for 

 replanting without more delay than is necessary. 



Measurement of felled timber. 1 



The true volume of a log is found by taking its girth, or 

 diameter, in the middle; calculating the sectional area of this 

 place ; and then multiplying the sectional area by the length. 

 The sectional area means the number of square feet or inches 



1 The calculations in this chapter are made as simple as possible, but 

 it is assumed that the woodman has a knowledge of decimals. 



