4 



14 FOREST UTILIZATION 



O. Tree-felling machines. 



They are largely used abroad to obtain the stump of a tree together 

 with the bole. 



I. One of them is the "Nassau machine," consisting of a 4-inch 

 board 10 inches wide into which regular steps are hewn, 

 and of a pole about 25 ft. long, with a crooked pike at the 

 small end and squarely bound in iron at the big end. Half 

 a foot above the big end the pole is perforated so as to 

 receive a ij^-inch round steel spike. The square base of 

 the pole is placed on a step of the board, fixed flat on the 

 ground, some 12 feet from the tree. The pole then forms 

 an angle of about 50 against the board, while the spike 

 is securely placed into the bole of the tree. By means 

 of two crowbars the base of the pole is moved step by 

 step toward the tree. This machine must be used in 

 Hesse Darmstadt, under the employer's liability law. 

 II. The "wood devil" has been used for centuries in Switzer- 

 land. A rope or cable is fixed in the top of the tree to 

 be felled and a chain is fastened around a stump in the 

 falling direction, which chain ends in two hooks. The 

 lower end of the rope is secured to a chain, the links 

 of which receive the hooks. By moving a long lever to 

 and fro, the hooks are inserted alternatingly in the chain 

 end of the rope, advancing two or three links at a time. 

 The instrument is very cheap, simple and powerful ; at an 

 angle of 45 the rope has the maximum of power. 



III. To remove stumps alone the stump lifter might be used. 



IV. ''Weston's differential hoist" lifts the maximum of weight 



with a minimum of its own weight. 



A Weston hoist capable of lifting i l / 2 tons 8^2 ft. high 

 weighs only 81 Ibs. and costs $25. 



VI. FELLING THE TREES. 



Under "A" and "B" are described the chief methods of felling. 

 A. Obtaining bole without stump and roots : 



I. By exclusive use of the axe, handled from, one side only in 



cutting small trees, in thinnings and in coppice woods. 

 II. By exclusive use of the axe, cutting two kerfs on opposite 

 sides. The first notch, on side toward which tree is in- 

 tended to fall, made from 4 inches to 6 inches lower, must 

 penetrate the center of the tree. Avoid felling toward the 

 direction in which the tree leans. 



Advantages of this method are the facts that one tool and one 

 man only are required; that the bole is easily directed; that 

 the logs obtain proper noses. 



Disadvantages are loss of bole, amounting to from 4 % to 8 % 

 and loss of time and labor in large timber. This method of 

 felling is universally used in Maine. 



