1885.] FOREST WORK FOR THE MONTH. 69 



means have been employed to prevent the birds from eating the 

 seed, but of all otliers 1 have seen, this I regard as the cheapest and 

 most effective. 



The next, and on many estates by far the most important, work 

 for the month is that of bark harvesting, and oak of all others 

 constitutes the main subject. Larch, as well as oak, on some estates 

 is also peeled, and leaves about as good a margin in favour of the 

 proprietor as oak does. Alder and birch are also on some estates 

 peeled ; but this is rarely done merely for the sake of the bark, but 

 in order to enhance the value of the wood for charcoal purposes, 

 which is used in the manufacture of powder, for which purpose it 

 requires to be peeled or shaved clean of bark. 



Although it cannot be expected that sufficient directions can be 

 here given to enable the inexperienced to execute such important 

 work as that of peeling and harvesting bark, yet a few general 

 directions may, it is hoped, be found acceptable to some wlio may 

 not have had the opportunity of seeing it done in the best and most 

 advantageous way, or in any other than their own. 



In the first place, the bark should be taken off' with the peeling- 

 iron in lengths of 3 feet or thereby, and that from the trunk or 

 bole and limbs about a foot broad, and from small trees and large 

 branches quite round. No beating with mallets should be allowed 

 in doing the work, as it very much discolours and injures the 

 quality of the bark. The drying should be done by first erecting a 

 sort of rest for the bark to stand against, the pieces being set on 

 end along both sides at such support, and sloped so as to stand 

 securely, and the pieces meet together at the top like the roof of a 

 house in miniature. The bark set up in this form dries very 

 quickly, and is less liable to injury by damp or wet weather than 

 dried in any other way. The support is usually of a very temporary 

 and cheap construction : sometimes a line of rope-yarn supported 

 on small stakes driven into the ground to about 2 feet high, some- 

 times a small paling rail is run along the posts. In other cases 

 where convenient, it can be set up against a wire fence or wooden 

 paKng, whichever best suits the convenience of the place ; and 

 when sufficiently dry for storing, no time should be lost in doing so, 

 which should be in a dry airy place, where it remains till it is 

 chopped or hitched. Larch bark is harvested much in the same 

 Avay as oak, but is less liable to injury from damp or wet weather. 

 It is, however, more brittle when dry, and requires to be as seldom 

 and gently handled as possible. C. Y. Micpiie. 



