210 



FELLING AND CONVERSIOX. 



in forests as was formerly the case, owing to the fact that logs are 

 generally removed in the round from forests and converted into 

 planks, Arc, in saw-mills. Such saws are still, however, largely used 

 in Indian forests; also frame-saws (fig. 97) which have very thin 

 blades and are easily transportable, the frames being made in the 

 forest. *In Indian saws also the teeth are filed so that the cutting 

 edge is towards the operator, and much thinner blades can be used 

 than when the saws cut in thrust as in Europe. — Tr.] 



3. Tools for SpHtt'ui[i Wood. 



Besides those stave-making implements already described 

 (p. 143 et scq.), the iron or wooden wedge, and the cleaving-axe 

 are required for splitting wood. 



(a) Wedges. — Iron wedges usually have a wooden head, 

 which is surrounded by an iron ring to prevent it from splitting 

 (fig. 98). 



Wedges may also be entirely made of iron, but they are then 

 driven into the wood by a beetle or wooden mallet, whilst the 



Fig. 9S. 



Fio. mo. 



wooden-topped wedges may be driven in with the flat steel back 

 of a splitting axe. 



Wooden wedges (fig. 99) are prepared by the woodcutter out 

 of tough middle-aged beech or hornbeam-wood, and arc fre- 

 quently surrounded at the head by an iron ring. 



Iron wedges are considered more serviceable for splitting 

 tough w^ood ; where wooden wedges are used, a cleft must 

 previously be made in the wood with a cleaving axe. There is, 

 however, a risk that iron wedges may spring out of the wood, 

 the friction against their smooth sides being less than with 



* Fernandez, Utilization of Forests, p. 86. 



