The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-01-16
Chopping Down n Tree.

How tree is chopped down in the
Maine woods is thus described by the
Boston Transcript The chopper works
upon one bended knee. Before begin
ming to cut, he has looked to see which
way the tree is inclined. For this he
steps'back a short distance to where he
can sec to its very top. If heis in doubt
he lifts his axe by the end of the helve
and lets it hang freely suspended. This
gives him q plumb line by which he
measures the inclination of the tree. But
it is not enough to determine in what di-
rection the tree will fall most readily.
1t may be that large trees are standing
right in the way of its falling on that
side, and against these the tree will be
lodged 1t must be carried to the one
side or the other, and herein consists one
of the mysteries of woodcraft-the skill
to guide tree in its fall. He will di-
rect it with the greatest ease. Having
decided where he wants it to go to avoid
the risk of lodging against other
trees or of being broken by fall
ing on uneven ground, or to have
it lie so that the logs will be convenient
of removal, the chopper first undercuts
the tree, that is, he cuts upon the side
toward which he will have it fall, and in
such manner that the line of the kerf
shall be exactly at right angles with the
lire along which the tree is to lie. If
the tree stands nearly perpendicular, and
has no inclination to fah as he wishes,
the chopper cuts little beyond the heart
on that side BY doing this he removes
tlaa hacn ho,, dl,n fc rao1,- fp foil
and rests upon base of but an inch or
two IN breadth, so much from the CEN
ter of the stump. The effect of this will
be very great in moving the base so that
the center of gravity will fall on the side
desired. Though he works in so cramped
posture, the chopper cuts the stump so
level and so smooth he thinks his little
boy could spin top upon it.
Having undercut the tree with the
greatest care, the woodman now changes
his position little, but remains on the
same side, rests on his other knee, and
shifts hands, that is, wields the axe with
the other hand forward. He now cuts
upon the other side, leaving the stump
two or three inches higher according as
he wishes to gain advantage for the last
lew SlIOhCS. ut NOIh SOGS On Will
little concern until the base is no thicker
than a plank and quite as even, then a
blow is aimed full at the center, and the
chopper looks quickly at the top to note
the effect If he perceives tremor in
the trunk, or if a bit of bark or moss is
loosened from its hold, he knows now
every stroke will tell, and he aims these
with the greatest precision. Soon
as ever the top bows to its
fall he marks the direction in
which it is moving If he wishes to
1 bring it more toward him he strikes a
blow upon the further edge; if to carry
it further from him, the blow is given
upon the side that is nearer. These last
strokes need to be given with great nicely.
If feeble, they will fail to effect their
purpose; if of too great force, the tree
Will be severed from the stump upon
that side, and then all control of it is
lost at once, and it plunges blindly for
ward A tall tree like the pine is broken
from the stump by force acting quite
differently from that which is applied in
the case of shorter trees In its descent
the pine acquires at its top centrifugal
force so powerful as to lift the tree from
the stump and carry it forward five ol
six feet before it reaches the ground
When it does come to the earth the toI
and the butt strike at the same time, ano
the tree lies half buried in the snow.