Visiting my mother today, I saw that her neighbor across the street had
felled a large black cherry tree. The trunk was clear, straight, and
limb-free for 15 feet. The largest diameter was probably 32", and
perhaps 26-28 inches at the upper end. No evidence of rot or damage.

It had been down a couple of days, so the ends were a beautiful deep
russet color. Not just "both" ends, but all 20 of them.

Yep, 20 ends -- several hundred dollars' worth of fine lumber had been
cut into neat 18" firewood lengths. As we sat in my mother's living
room for a visit, I heard the clank of a maul repeatedly hitting a
splitting wedge. I cringed at each blow, and I think I have developed a
tic in my eye.

*sigh*

Kevin