Dad was particular about how he did a job and cutting down t

Dad was particular about how he did a job and cutting down trees was no exception.

Finishing the tree removal, he wanted the top of the stump flush with the ground. He did not notch the tree with an axe (as I expected from reading about Paul Bunyan) but used a cross cut saw. I am sure whoever worked with him hated using this saw from a kneeling position.

After all of the cutting and burning there were just a bunch of stumps that Dad wanted to get rid of. Today, we’d hire a stump grinder and they’d be gone, but not in the 50’s. Dad drilled holes downward into the stumps and poured used kerosine into the holes. Then after having marinated the stumps in kerosine for several weeks (this involved several doses of kerosine), he would try to burn the stumps. This was only partially successful as the stumps would only burn down a few inches. So he’d give them another dose and do it again a month or so later.