LUMBERING IN PINE EEGION OF CALIFORNIA. 15 
his axe as a plumb line. It is then cut down by the two fallers, who 
work together with a crosscut saw. In thick-barked timber they usu- 
ally remove with axes a ring of the outer bark at stump height before 
sawing. When the set consists of but two fallers, they usually pre- 
pare the undercut together, and it may be made entirely with axes or 
the lower portion may be sawed and the upper chopped. Saws are 
used for all other felling work, even in small timber. Wedges are 
used, when necessary, to throw the tree in the direction required. 
The limbs are then cut from the merchantable bole. Limbing may 
follow or precede the marking of the log lengths, which is done by 
limber, one of the fallers, or, on some jobs, by a log marker. All 
limbing is done with an ax, and one man to a felling crew is usually 
sufficient. 
Bucking is cutting the bole into logs. It is performed by men 
working separately, each with a crosscut saw. Wedges are used to 
prevent pinching of the saw, and a shovel is sometimes necessary 
when a log lies close to or is embedded in the ground. On some steam 
and all horse logging operations the logs are bucked into short lengths 
in the woods; that is, 12, 14, 16, and 18 feet. The more progressive 
steam loggers are now having the trees bucked in the woods into one, 
two, and three log lengths. These logs are then bucked into shorter 
lengths by hand buckers or portable steam saws at each yarder, or by 
a steam drag saw in the mill pond or on the mill deck. 
The standard felling and bucking crew consists of one set of two 
fallers, one limber, and five buckers. In average timber the average 
output of such a crew is from 35,000 to 40,000 feet daily. If an under- 
cutter is added, three buckers must also be added, one of whom helps 
with the limbing. The average daily output of such a crew is about 
55,000 or 60,000 feet. Thus, under ordinary conditions each faller 
is good for from 18,000 to 20,000 feet daily and each bucker for from 
8,000 to 9,000 feet. 
The daily wages of the smaller crew are from $23 to $24 daily, 
usually the former. Under excellent felling conditions, one more 
bucker is required, making the daily cost $25.75; and under severe 
conditions one less bucker is necessary, thus decreasing the daily 
cost to $20.25. On this basis the labor costs of crews of this type 
are about as follows: 
1. Very unfavorable conditions, 26,000 feet daily, 78 cents per 1,000. 
2. Poor timber, 30,000 feet daily, 72 cents per 1,000. 
3. Fair timber, 35,000 feet daily, 65 cents per 1,000. 
4. Ordinary timber, 38,000 feet daily, 60 cents per 1,000. 
5. Good timber, 40,000 feet daily, 57 cents per 1,000. 
6. Very good timber, 45,000 feet daily, 54 cents per 1,000. 
7. Excellent condition, 50,000 feet daily, 51 cents per 1,000. 
