182 ENGLISH ESTATE FORESTRY 



It is an interesting sight to watch a skilful axeman " lay 

 in " a large oak or elm, and note the accuracy and judgment 

 with which each blow is made. Commencing at the side 

 towards which the tree will fall, the bark is lightly cut 

 through in a downward direction, and, the second stroke 

 being made horizontally, the first chip is detached from the 

 tree. Succeeding strokes from the axe remove large chips, 

 and the process goes on until an almost right-angled step 

 or niche is removed all round the base of the tree and in a 

 practically horizontal line. The side on which the tree is 

 required to fall is then cut in obliquely for about a quarter 

 of the diameter of the tree arid slightly hollowed out below. 

 The saw is then applied to the opposite side, and the bole 

 sawn through until within a few inches of the falling face, 

 when the weight of the tree ought to break away the 

 remaining portion and bring about its fall. If it does not do 

 this, but is inclined to " sit back," as woodmen term it, a 

 wedge should be driven in behind the saw, and the tree 

 forced over in that way. In windy weather, or with trees 

 with well-balanced tops, it sometimes happens that the tree 

 falls back over the saw-cut, instead of away from it, and 

 such an accident may prove dangerous to the workmen, or to 

 buildings which happen to stand in the way. Trees standing 

 near buildings, unless they have a decided lean away from 

 them, should always be lined or roped for safety, and the tree 

 pulled over by means of pulleys after the butt has been cut 

 through to the necessary extent. Eopes used for such a 

 purpose should be carefully kept, and tested from time to 

 time, as, in the event of a rope breaking at the critical 

 moment, a serious accident might result. Another method 

 of inducing a tree to fall in the right direction is that of 

 removing branches from the opposite side, and thus altering 

 its centre of gravity. Men employed for such work require 

 plenty of nerve and judgment, for it often happens that parts 

 of the trunks have to be scaled which no available ladder 

 will reach, and in big trees both hand and foot hold are 

 not easily obtained, and the only way for a man to ascend is 

 with a rope thrown over a branch above his head. Another 

 case in which the removal of branches is sometimes necessary, 

 is in the case of large-headed ash or oak on which a branch 



