FELLING AND LOG-MAKING 
105 
NOTCHING 
A wedge-shaped notch or undercut is made on the trunk in 
the direction of fall, to guide the tree and to prevent the bole 
from splitting before it is competely severed from the stump. 
It has a horizontal base extending slightly past the center of the 
tree if felling is done with the ax, and from one-fifth to one- 
fourth of the diameter when felling is done with the saw. The 
undercut on trees that lean heavily in the felling direction is 
Fig. 21. — The Undercut on a Douglas Fir Tree. The fallers are stand- 
ing on spring boards to enable them to make the cut above the root swelling. 
Washington. 
made deeper than usual in order to insure a clean break. On 
those that lean away from the felling direction a small notch is 
cut because it gives the wedges greater power. In felling large 
redwood the sloping face of the undercut is sometimes made 
below the horizontal cut instead of above it in order to avoid 
the waste of timber which would occur if the usual method were 
followed. 
The notch is placed from 2 to 4 inches below the point at 
which the felling cut is started on the opposite side. Its height 
above ground is determined entirely by the policy of the logger 
