FELLING RULES. 2-^9 



ii. Each stem should be thrown in such a direction that it does 

 itself the least amount of harm. 



As regards the direction for felling on slopes, the danger of 

 breakage is much lessened by throwing the tree uphill, as then 

 its summit describes the smallest arc and attains the least 

 velocity on reaching the ground. Therefore, in felling valuable 

 tall timber trees, it is better to fell uphill. On very steep 

 slopes it may be advantageous in the case of firewood trees to 

 throw them with the crown downhill, so as to prevent the tree 

 from sliding any further. 



[In the Him:il:i3'as, however, tlie plan of felling uphill was aban- 

 doned in steep places owing to the danger this caused to the wood- 

 cutters, the base of the tree often shooting out backwards or sideways 

 from the stump. This danger may be avoided by felling sideways, 

 on to a contour line, if the men stand above the tree at the moment 

 of its fall.— Tr.] 



In order to prevent the stem from breaking, the configuration 

 of the ground on which it will fall should be carefully in- 

 spected, as felling across gullies, on to rocks or other stems 

 may break the tree. In the case of valuable timber, where 

 there is an object in securing as long and straight pieces as 

 possible, or where valuable curved wood is being felled, great 

 care must be taken not to throw the tree on to stones or 

 frozen ground, and therefore felling valuable trees should be 

 stopped during a hard frost. 



In such cases a soft bed of branches or faggots may be placed 

 under the trees, on to which they should be felled ; or they may 

 be felled against a neighbouring standing tree, provided that it 

 is also to be felled. A tree may also be felled, so as to fall 

 slowly, by forcing it over by means of wedges before it is com- 

 pletely severed from the stump. Where a tree is not too tall, 

 it may preserve the lower part of the stem from breakage, to 

 fell the tree without previously lopping any of its branches. 



iii. In felling timber-trees, attention should be paid to easy 

 removal of the logs. 



Such trees should not, therefore, be felled across or into ravines, 



