102 FELLING ABOVE GROUND. 



Felling with the axe alone is thus a very wasteful method, and 

 should be confined to stems having a diameter at the base of not 

 more than 12 inches. Where timber is very valuable, the maxi- 

 mum diameter may be reduced to even 6 inches. One great 

 advantage of the axe is that with stems up to 12 inches or so in 

 diameter it works much more expeditiously than any other hand 

 tool. 



(2). Felling with the saw alone. 



The saw is made to cut continuously on one side (opposite to 

 that on which the tree is to fall) until the stem is nearly cut 

 through. To prevent the saw from jamming, as well as to gradually 

 force the tree over, two or more strong wedges are driven into the 

 cut behind the saw. To facilitate this operation, if necessary, the 

 tree may be pushed or pulled over with the usual tools. As the 

 single cut extends almost to the bark on the opposite side, unless 

 the wedges are driven in skilfully, the tree is likely to fall in 

 almost any direction within an angle of nearly 180°. 



The amount of kerf is so small, that for all practical purposes 

 there is absolutely no waste of wood with the saw. The saw should 

 be used in felling all trees exceeding, according to the value of the 

 timber, from 6 to 12 inches in diameter. 



It is allowable to use the axe in order to round off buttresses 

 and other irregularities. 



(3). Felling with the saw and axe combined. 



In this case a first cut is made with an axe on the side on which 

 the tree is required to fall. This cut extends into the stem for 

 only a fourth or fifth of its diameter, and its object is simply to 

 make the work of the saw easier and to secure with certainty the 

 fall of the stem in the exact direction desired. The saw-cut is 

 made and opened out in the same way as when the saw alone is 

 used. 



