LOGGING IN THE DOUGLAS FIR REGION. 



33 



feet of the fallers to slip downhill. The springboard, together with 

 calked shoes, prevents this. Furthermore, there is a certain spring 

 in the boards when the fallers are working that makes it easier for 

 them to pull the saw. 



THE FELLING CUT. 



Fig. 3. — Falling as. 



The undercut completed, the next step is the making of the felling- 

 cut. This is done with a falling saw. Prior to about 1880 the 

 felling cut was made with an ax but not so satisfactory. Wedges 

 can not be used when felling with an ax, so 

 that it is difficult to throw a tree in any 

 direction except that in which it leans. 

 Furthermore, the output of a set of fallers 

 is considerably less when working only 

 with an ax than when working with saw 



and ax. Then, too, the loss of wood is larger when the ax is used 

 exclusively. 



The felling cut is started slightly above and opposite the under- 

 cut. When the saw has buried itself in the wood, steel wedges and 

 plates are driven in behind it to prevent binding. In small, second- 

 growth timber, th« fallers may saw in a direction parallel to the 

 undercut. As a rule, however, they change the direction of the cut 

 so as to be continually sawing across a corner. If a tree leans heavily 

 in the direction it is to be thrown, a different method is used. Such 



^^ 



Fig. 4. — Spring or chopping board. 



a tree will naturally break off while there is still considerable wood 

 holding it to the stump ; and, if any of this wood is on the outside 

 of the tree, there is a likelihood of its splitting up the side of the 

 butt log. To prevent this, the fallers make side cuts, so that there 

 i«. nothing to break when the tree falls except the wood on the 

 inside of the stump. Much the same method is used with a tree 

 that is rotten about the heart. 



Wlien it is desired to draw a tree slightly to one side of the direc- 

 tion in which it leans, the greatest thickness of wood between the 

 felling cut and undercut is left on the side toward which it is desired 

 to draw the tree. Wedges are also employed with this latter method. 

 61361°— Bull. 711—18 3 



