PROPERTIES AND USES OF TIMBER. S85 



the safer, but the more tedious, method. Fig. 4. 

 represents two splits fit for knees; and-^Fig. 5. a 



1 - 1 



dressed ship-knee. If there be only two or three 

 horizontal roots of sufficient size, the trunk must 

 be split accordingly ; but, in such a case, the pro- 

 fit is of course less, nearly the same labour being 

 required as if there were four. When the root 

 branches into five or more stems, they seldom at- 

 tain a size to fit them for this purpose, and it is also 

 more difficult to split them out. The remaining 

 part of the tree is generally little worse for common 

 purposes, being merely somewhat shorter than if 

 cut in the ordinary way. 



When this operation is carried on on a large 

 scale, the workman digs away the earth and cuts 

 the roots, leaving the tree to fall by the next wind, 



Bb 



