TilK I'AHM HOlJilNi;. 



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that it will remain steady while the ends air being marked, at the same time 

 in such a position that the most eau be made of the timber it eontains. 

 The rase ami readiness with which tins is done depends entirely upon the 

 skill and judgment— largely tin' result of practice and experience— of the 

 axeman. 



The squares <>r rectangles are now marked on the ends with the aid of the 

 level and rule. The first line (a vertical one) is obtained by drawing a pencil 

 along the face of the level when it is held " plumb" and as close to the edge 

 as it is deemed advisable to go. The line at right angles to this is obtained 

 by drawing a line along the top of the same instrument when it is held level 

 The other lines, necessary to complete the rectangle, are then obtained with- 

 out difficulty by measurements. Another way of marking the first line on 

 both ends is with the aid of a plumb-line. The other lines are then marked 

 off it with the aid of a blacksmiths or other square and a measure. 



Fig. 15.— Marking the ends. 



It is very necessary that some method be adopted to prevent a "wind" or twist 

 in the squared log. Marking the first line on each end with the plumb-line 

 or level is an easy and satisfactory way of preventing this ; but, in the 

 absence of either a plumb line or a level, the "wind" may be prevented by 

 marking the first line on each end with the aid of tw T o laths, or light battens, 

 used in the following manner. A lath, or batten, is tacked to one end of 

 the log in either a vertical, or a horizontal position, the other lath is then 

 held on the opposite end of the log, so that the edges of both laths " line,' 

 or correspond with each other, when sighted across. The longer the laths 

 the more accurate is the work likely to be. 



The ends having been marked, it is necessaiy to connect these marks with 

 lines which will show the axeman how deep to chop. These lines are marked 

 or " struck " in a similar manner to that adopted by a carpenter for marking 

 a chalk line on a board. A carpenter's line, a piece of fishing-line, or failing 

 these, a piece of string or sewing-twine, is used. Instead of coating the string 

 with dry chalk as the carpenter does, it is found better, for the work in hand, 

 to use a black or a white liquid. Black is to be preferred, as it makes a 

 better mark than white on the log. A suitable liquid is made by mixing 

 charcoal, soot, or burnt straw with water. To make a white mark, lime- 

 wash or whiting and water is used. 



