"Arch" wrote in message
...

Some of the local healthy Norfolk Island Pines blown down by last year's
hurricanes had some internal cracks (wind shakes?), but IMHO not much
different from felled healthy trees. I wonder if other timbers along the
gulf coast or elsewhere exhibit a marked difference whether sawn down or
blown down.

Would someone please discuss or give a reference to what happens inside
a falling healthy tree in general and in particular species. Also the
effects of total time spent shaking before falling and how the tree
fell. I assume that trunk weight and root size are factors. TIA


If, by wind shakes you mean the same as we have with local hardwoods, they
happen along the annual rings, and are a result of the tree bending under a
load while standing and growing. Ring porous woods like oak and ash seem
most prone, but they're certainly possible everywhere. I've even seen some
in maple.

Falling trees and "stump pull" is a whole different business. The heartwood
remains on the stump, and the bottom stick is left with a big hollow ripped
out section. Can rip along wind shakes, but not necessary that they be
present. The practice of plunging the saw to relieve the center of the wood
prior to felling is pretty commonly used on valuable birdseye and curly
veneer logs. Should say was, as now the feller machine holds the tree in
position as it's cut, precluding stump pull.