[AT] How about Tractors.

[Thomas O. Mehrkam]

Dad and I cleared 25 acres with a Farmall H and a log chain. I was
15. He would hook up the chain and I would pull the trees.

We would leave a little slack in the chain. When the tractor came to
the end of the chain either the tree would come out or the tractor would
dig a hole. Dad would then take an Axe and cut some roots and the tree 
would come right out.

Gene Dotson wrote:

>     Ralph;
>     This is how I have been doing most of my clearing. Have so
> much small growth of about 1 1/2 inches that the blade just
> pushes over and the roots are still there attached to the tree
> that is now laying flat on the ground. Then you have to get
> below ground lavel and take a lot of dirt to get the tree.
>     By pulling them out, I get most of the roots and does not
> leave the ground so rough. The fence rows I won't even bother
> to level with the dozer. They are smooth enough to plow and
> what I can't work with the plow and disc will still be smooth
> enough to mow.
>     Springtime is the best time to pull trees. Just after the
> ground thaws and the surface gets dry enough for good traction.
>     Hardest trees to pull out have been the hackberry and
> hickory. A 4 inch hackberry will make my little dozer set and
> dig before it comes out with the chain as high as I can reach.
> They are very tough and springy too.
>     Apple trees are easy to pull, as are maple and wild cherry.
> 
>                             Gene
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ralph Goff <alfg at sasktel.net>
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 12:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] How about Tractors.
> 
> 
> : I used to help my Dad pull down some of the bigger trees that
> the tractor
> : and blade could not handle. The height makes all the
> difference. The old
> : Cancade blade on the 50 would only lift maybe 18 inches off
> the ground. At
> : that level, the trees are pretty solid. But hook a chain and
> long cable on
> : about ten feet up and that tree would pull out quite easily
> most of the
> : time. It was a good method if you only need to move a few
> trees but I
> : wouldn't want to take on a whole forest that way.
> :
> : Ralph in Sask.
> : http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/lgoff/latestpage.html
> :
> : ----- Original Message -----
> : From: <pga2 at hot1.net>
> : To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> : Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 7:28 AM
> : Subject: Re: [AT] How about Tractors.
> :
> :
> : > Yep. I remember the phone company pulling over a dead one
> for us when I
> : > was a kid, probably 4 or 5. They used a cable hooked to a
> regular phone
> : > company pickup with the utility body. No problemo!
> : >
> : > Phil
> : >
> : > > Mike,
> : > >
> : > > I think you'll be amazed how easily an apple tree is to
> push out.  I
> : > > know I was.  Just put the blade against them fairly high
> and SHOVE.  The
> : > > few roots are shallow and snap easily.
> : > >
> : > > George Willer
> : >
> : >
> : >
> : > _______________________________________________
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> : > http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
> :
> :
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