felling by the roots. 103 



Article 2. — Pelling by the boots. 



All the main roots are laid bare witli the help of picks, the 

 smaller roots that come in the way being cut through with grub- 

 bing axes. The former are then severed with the axe or a curved 

 saw, whichever is more convenient, those being cut last which 

 anchor the tree on the side opposite to that on which it is to fall. 



If the tree has no tap root or any other large roots penetrating 

 into the ground more or less vertically, the procedure is very simple. 

 All the main roots are laid completely bare up to the point at which 

 they cease to have useful dimensions. In doing this, the second- 

 ary and other subordinate roots are cut through and removed with 

 grubbing axes. The apper main roots, which are also the largest, 

 are first severed close to the trunk with axes or a short curved saw, 

 and tlien cut through at the further end and torn up with grub- 

 bing axes and wooden levers (poles of some hard, strong wood, from 

 6 to 10 feet long and cut into the form of a wedge at the thick end). 

 The lower roots, on the contrary, are severed first where they are 

 thinnest, as they are then more easily lifted up and broken o&. The 

 roots on the side opposite to that on which the tree is to fall should 

 be cut last, and from the beginning the tree should, with the aid 

 of a hook and chain or the thrust-pole, be forced gradually to lean 

 over until the enormous leverage exercised by its crown brings it 

 down, tearing asunder all the smaller roots that are still holding 

 it. These roots cause the tree to fall slowly, and therefore with 

 much less momentum, than if it were felled above ground, and 

 hence, in this system of felling, there is less occasion for reducing 

 the crown. 



If the tree has a tap root or other roots running down more or 

 less vertically, the upper roots are cut and removed as in the 

 preceding case. When there is only a tap root, this should be cut 

 into obliquely on two opposite sides, the cut on the side opposite 

 to that on which the tree is to fall being deeper and the one by 

 which the felling is completed. To help in deepening this cut 

 as well as in bringing down the tree, a number of men should tug 

 away at the tree in the direction in which it is to fall. By alter- 

 nately pulling and giving, and causing the crown to sway forwards 

 and backwards, greater effect is secured, and to prevent the trunk 

 from swaying back too far, poles, thrust under it on that side, should 

 be pushed in further and further as the tree bends forward more 

 and more. In the case of several vertical roots, they must be cut 

 through one by one, the most easily reached being attacked first, 

 and the last being cut in the same manner as the single tap root* 



