Harvesting the Small Forest
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237 HARVESTING THE SMALL FOREST ARTHUR M. SOWDER Harvesting the woodland crop^ or periods, equal to 5 percent of the work- loggings is the last stage in the pro- day. duction of the crop. It is like the final Before he starts his tree harvest, the step in producing potatoes or doing owner should know the outlets for the farm chores, such as milking. A farmer crop. If they are to be marketed, the does not sell his potatoes while they products should be contracted for by are in the ground or the milk while it written agreement. It is worth while to is in the cow. By doing his own harvest- inquire about the products in demand, ing or chores, he is selling his services. and study the logging of those products In the South, for instance, about as to quantity and quality, with the one-half the value of some harvested equipment available. Also, before start- forest products, such as sawlogs, is rep- ing, it is well to mark the trees to be resented by the standing tree—hence cut with paint, crayon, or lime spots. one-half comes about through logging In marking, the owner should bear in and hauling. In other words, harvest- mind that it usually costs more per ing doubles the sawlog returns from cord or per thousand board feet to log the woodlands. small trees than it does large ones, but Owners of small woods who do their in time the owner will learn which are own logging are apt to practice good the profitable tree sizes and species and forestry. When one does his own log- how long it takes trees to grow to a ging according to a sound plan, he will profitable logging size. It is a good idea exercise more care to get better utili- likewise to consult a local forester or zation, avoid damage to future crop the county agent. They will know local trees, leave the area in better shape for conditions and markets and be able to forthcoming operations, and—more advise on the practicability of doing than likely—protect his woodland from the logging one's self or letting it out fire, insects, and diseases. on contract. If any help is to be hired, Logging generally can be done in they can give good advice on the going slack seasons. Often it is a welcome wages, tJhe phases of the work that change from other farm work. It can have been declared too hazardous for fit in nicely with a balanced farm pro- under-age workers, and the workmen's gram. Usually winter is the best season compensation requirements. for the woods work: Snow, frost, and Mechanical equipment, such as frozen ground facilitate skidding and power saws, wood splitters, and tree hauling, although they increase the ac- planters, has helped make some of the cident rate and, for products that must work easier. be peeled, cold is a handicap. As with other types of farm work, Logging is hard work, but it is sur- scarcity of help has led to increased prising how some jobs can be made mechanization in woodland operations easier by planning, how quickly experi- in order to maintain production. In ence makes one more efficient in the logging, however, mechanization has use of tools and equipment, and how not materially lowered the production much effort is saved by keeping tools costs on the smaller operations. sharp. In fact, farmers often say that Many small operators have aban- after a day or two in the woods they doned the use of the power chain saw, enjoy the work. The hardest part is because they have found it more ex- to get started—and, after starting, to pensive than hand tools. The two-man remember that experienced woods gas saw is too costly to use on inter- workers usually take breathers, or rest mittent, low-production jobs in the 238 Yearbook of Agriculture 1949 small timber. To be economical, it 2. Skidding products from stump to requires enough timber to keep a crew skidway, landing, or assembly point. of three to five men busy. One-man The essential tools and equipment power chain saws^ now on the market, arc: promise to be better suited to use on Skidding chain. small jobs in small timber. If one owner Peavey. of a small woodland cannot afford to Pow'Cr (animal or machine). buy mechanized equipment, he might Rigging. go in with other owners and purchase Ax. it jointly. Or, equipment is available The optional tools and equipment sometimes on a custom basis, the same are: as threshing machines and corn pickers. Tongs or grapple hooks. Another possibility is to trade labor or Skid sled. arrange through a service type of log- Skid pan, etc. ging ring, operated on a fee basis not Extra rigging. unlike the spray rings employed in Wagon. horticulture, for some of the work. Log cart. But even with ordinary tools, the 3. Loading the products on wagon work is made easier by using one's head, or truck (and perhaps unloading at keeping the tools sharp and in safe the destination). working condition, planning the log- The essential tools and equipment ging work and lay-out, and taking ad- are: vantage of gravity. Peavey, or cant hook. Three steps arc involved in log- Cross-haul line. ging, but the ways of doing the w^ork Pole skids. in the suggested steps will vary ac- Power (animal or machine). cording to the woodland and the prod- Rigging. uct harvested. The steps are : Wagon or truck or sled. 1. Felling (or falling) the tree and The optional tools and equipment preparing the products, which in- are: cludes : Loader or jammer. a. Limbing the tree; Pulp hook. Z?. Bucking it into product size; Block and tackle. €. Peeling, splitting, and hewing One should be careful, so as to avoid the products, when required : accidents. The most common accidents d. Slash disposal, if necessary. in the woods arc due to axes, saws, The essential tools and equipment suspended broken branches, and being for this step are: on the downhill side of rolling logs. Fibcrboard safety helmet. Even in lifting there is a right and Ax. wrong way. Properly done, the arms Saw. and back are kept straight and the legs Wedge. bent, so that the lifting is done with Hammer. the leg muscles. Wherever possible, di- Measuring stick. rect lifting should be avoided and use Coal oil. made of a peavey or pole. A fiberboard Saw file. safety helmet, a part of the essential Whetstone. equipment, protects the head from fall- The optional tools are: ing limbs, or, in woods language, the Peavcy, or cant hook. widow makers. Log jack. Pulp hook. THE AX is probably the most impor- Peeling tools. tant of all logging tools. It is in use Tie-making tools. about one-half of the woodsman's Wood splitters. working time. For that reason, if any Harvesting the Small Forest 239 choice is possible, one should give care- ering limbs, treetops, and working in ful consideration to its selection—to fit post-size material. the ax to the work contemplated. For large timber, the length of the Of a hundred patterns and sizes, a saw should be about twice the diam- few pointers to consider are: eter of the largest material to be cut, The wider blades are better suited so that one can use long, straight for softwoods ( the evergreens ) and the strokes and bring out the accumulated narrower blades for hardwoods. sawdust in the gullets. The handle should be of straight The tooth pattern varies with the grain, smooth, free of defects, and lined species of wood to be cut and condi- up in the same plane as the cutting tion of the wood, its seasoning, whether edge of the head, with the head well it is frozen, and so on. A narrow, down on the shoulder. Rough handles curved crosscut saw is better suited to raise blisters. wedging in smaller timber than the The weight, single or double bit, and wide, straight-backed type. hang will vary according to preference A properly sharpened saw makes and use. An ax weighing from 3 to 4 shavings, not saw^dust. As with the ax, pounds is about the right weight. there is no substitute for practice, either Properly forged and tempered steel in using the saw or in fitting it. axheads are usually found in the better It is best to carry the crosscut saw axes. with only one handle attached. The For productive and safe work, the ax blade should be over the shoulder with should be kept sharp. The user must the teeth out. One should be sure no have good footing wdth a firm grip on one is following close behind. If nec- the handle. Room is needed to swing essary to carry the saw at one's side, the ax. The most common obstructions, the teeth should be kept up so the saw low limbs and brush, should be re- can be thrown aside in case of a fall. moved. The bow saw can be slung over the The ax should be carried at one's shoulder, teeth to the rear. Either type side, with the hand just behind the can be protected by a piece of garden axhead. One-fourth of the accidents or fire hose, slit lengthwise, and tied in the woods are attributed to ax cuts. over the teeth. Burlap offers some pro- A single-bitted ax is somewhat less dan- tection. The saw should be kept in a gerous to use than a double-bitted one.