CHAPTER VII 



CLEARING THE CROP 



Felling timber — Time for felling — Bark peeling — Measuring felled 

 timber — Measuring standing timber — Measuring whole woods — 

 How to tell the age of trees. 



Felling Timber, 



With trees of pitwood size, this work is simple and 

 straightforward, and young lads should be given their 

 first opportuiiitj' of felling when such timber is cleared. 



The work is practically the same as for heavier timber, 

 and both may be explained together. 



The tools used in felling and trimming out are — felling 

 axe, lopping axe, hand-bill or bill-hook, felling saw and 

 cross-out saw, with saw-set, gauge and files, wedges and 

 sledge-hammer. 



For felling large trees with axe alone, the long-bladed 

 Enghsh axe is best, as it is more easy to " get under" a 

 tree with it than ydih. the shorter-bladed wedge axe. 

 The latter is most useful for poles, for lopping trees, 

 and for " laying in " trees ready for felling with the 

 saw. For heavy work, a good weight for an axe of any 

 make is 7 pounds, lighter ones being used for cutting 

 poles or branches. 



The felUng saw for big timber is usually 5 feet to 



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