METHODS OF FiiLLlNG. 2 2. J 



111 high mountain-regions where felling, conversion and trans- 

 port cannot be completed during one summer, it is usual during 

 the first summer and autumn to fell the trees, bark all the logs, 

 and prepare them for transport, and remove them to the depots 

 after snow has fallen. The firewood is then prepared in the 

 second summer, carried down on sledges to the depots during 

 winter, and floated away in the spring. It is rare that more 

 than two years are allowed for clearing a felling-area ; in such 

 cases the logs which have been so long lying in the forest rarely 

 arrive at their destination in a perfectly sound condition, and 

 yield only inferior material. 



Whenever great damage has been done by storms or snow, the 

 first measure is to clear the fallen wood from the roads and 

 ridges, and then all trees which have fallen over young growth 

 or poles are removed. After these cases have been attended to, 

 woods where extensive breakage has occurred are cleared, and 

 then places where single trees have fallen or have been rendered 

 insecure, all injured trees which may serve as breeding-places 

 for insects being felled. 



Section IV. — Methods of Felling. 

 1. General Aecount. 



As a rule, work is begun in as many felling-areas as there are 

 gangs of woodcutters available, and care is taken to sub-divide 

 equally all immediately impending work in so far as the natural 

 sylvicultural sequence of the different modes of felling does 

 not interfere with such a plan. This latter consideration is 

 especially important in secondary and selection fellings, and in 

 thinnings of mixed woods, which require great care on the part 

 of the woodcutters and the constant supervision of the forest 

 staff. 



Not unfrequently one gang may be distributed over several 

 felling-areas, and when it is important to expedite the work 

 owing to impending hard weather or heavy snow, several gangs 

 may be employed in one felling- area. 



In order to divide the work fairly amongst the men, the felling- 

 areas, which have been previously marked- out on the ground, may 



VOL. V. Q 



