Axemanship for Scouts

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 246, 18 October 1933, Page 16

Axemanship for Scouts

By Presswell

CHAPTER V. You should always examine the tree you are about to fell and note on which side the -weight of the branches is greatest, and also direction of the wind, as all these tilings affect the direction of the fall. If you want to fall a tree in a certain direction and you are not sure it will do so, you can use a rope to help it. Now see your standing ground is firm and that all spectators (that's me) are put of the way. Now start your front scarf, that is, on the side the tree will fall. I shall give no more advice until your scarf is about half way through. Not bad. Splendid to feel the axe biting into the timber, ch? Now your back scarf. Just a bit higher than the front one, and remember

this —as soon as the tree talks, that is, gives a crack, shout " Timber! oi "Stand from under!" even if you are by yourself —it is a good liabit to get into, and warns anyone who may have approached unobserved. And stand clear yourself, and do not stand behind your tree when she is falling, as it may sometimes strike another tree and kick back, which would mean that you would get a very nasty poke in the "tummy" which niiglit end your tree-felling. Right. Carry on—"Timber!" Crash! There she lies, poor thing. Not a bad job for a beginner. Oh! don't clean your axe yet, there's a lot of work to do. We must clean up and render first aid to that tree over there; you see, we

broke one of its branches, so we will ■just trim off the broken limb. Then have a look and sec if your tiee is resting insecurely 011 any branches. If so, we must cut them away so that our tree rests firmly. But be very careful, as it may roll and crush you. All safe? Now -we will trim off the branches. Always cut from butt to top, cutting with the grain. Hind your legs.

It will be safer if you get on the opposite side of the trunk from which the branch you are trimming is on. Pile all the small tops together and cut the larger branches into four-foot lengths and stack them up neatly. We will bring olong a cross-cut saw and saw up the trunk later. That is known as logging up. Took a bit of time, didn't it? Looks nice and tidy, though. Now wipe your axe and mask it while I light the lire and boil the billy, and while we have tucker I will tell you some more about an axe. Now a few hints about masking or parking your axe. Never in the ground, as even if you don't hit a stone there is enough grit in the earth to take the keen edge off your axe, and someone may also trip over the haft. Not in the end of a log with the haft sticking upwards. You, or someone else, may hit the haft and smash it. Nor on the top of a log with the haft sticking out over the edge, as it may result in the same thing, but in the top of a log with the

liaft turned inwards running parallel with the log. Now sometimes your axe gets jammed in a log; well don't pull and tug tlie haft upwards, but give it with your open hand. This will save perhaps breaking your haft. You should a sharp blow downwards at the toe, know most of these tilings to gain your first-class badge. It says "Use an axe for felling or trimming timber." Well no Scout will start using a dangerous tool like a sharp axe without knowing something about' it. Then there is your Woodman's Badge, for which you must know all these things and more. You must know how to use a crosscut saw and also have a knowledge of the trees from a timbennan's point of view. Well, had enough to eat? Good; put out our fire and leave no traces, and then we will have a talk to our brothers the trees, and see what we can learn about them.