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 and 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. Ropes 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 



