150 FORESTRY WORK 



must be well bent and the holding hand held at the same 

 level as the axe-head, which must be driven into the 

 wood in a slightly upward direction. This keeps the 

 edge of the axe-cut out of the way of the saw, and prevents 

 the sawyers knocking their knuckles upon it. 



The saw-cut should be made about J inch above the 

 level axe- work. Sawyers should be " light-handed " 

 and not force the tool too hard on to the wood. A 

 heavy-handed man does not get through the work any 

 quicker, but makes it harder for himself and his mates. 



If a tree appears to be falling too much to one side, 

 the cutting must be done faster on that side, leaving 

 the strongest hold on the other, which will help to pull 

 the tree straight. The wedges, too, should be driven in 

 on the side to which the tree leans most, care being taken 

 not to drive them on to the back of the saw. 



In felling with the axe alone, the spurs are first trimmed 

 up and a face made in the direction in which the tree is 

 to fall, and to the depth of half the diameter of the tree. 

 Axeing is then continued at the back of the tree until it 

 falls. The cuts or faces must not be made too wide, 

 otherwise a large percentage of valuable timber will be 

 wasted. For this reason it is advisable to fell all trees 

 above pole size with the saw. 



When a tree forks into two large limbs, it should be 

 felled so that it falls with equal weight upon both ; other- 

 wise, if it falls sideways, one or both of the limbs will be 

 split, and very possibly the butt as well. Large spread- 

 ing limbs should be cut off before the tree is felled, to 

 avoid splitting the tree. 



