174 1^^^^ Journal of Forestry. 



forests of England, of Scotland, of France, of Germany, or of the 

 norther n countries of Europe. 



And one can scarcely conceive of a technical school not covering 

 such a course of study would supply facilities for the prosecu- 

 tion of many 'accessory studies which might be made more or less 

 subservient to the accomplishment of what is desiderated as a means 

 of education for intending foresters. 



Bark-stripping in Kent. 



The bark-stripping — or " flawing," as it is locally termed — being no\v 

 finished throughout this county, and the produce safely in the hands ot 

 the merchants and tanners, the time has arrived Avhen we may take a 

 retrospective glance at the season, which has, on the whole, been an 

 indifferent one for those employed. The promise of an early spring was 

 followed by cold rains and winds and a succession of frosty nights, which 

 checked the flow of sap and prolonged the work of the "flawers." Cop 

 pices had to be gone over a second, and, in some instances, a third time before 

 a clearance could be eflected. Except in some favoured situations, the cold 

 and wet state of the ground caused the body-bark to peel badly even after 

 the branches ran well, and hammering, so fatal to the quality of the 

 produce, had to be resorted to. The custom of staging the bark for 

 harvesting is very general here, and is found to be under all circumstances 

 the most eflficacious. Peeling by the. ton is the usual method, and is 

 certainly the best for all parties where a proper supervision is maintained. 

 But in some instances we have this year come across unpeeled branches in 

 sufiicient numbers to have paid the entire cost of the operations. In 

 settling up with different gangs of men, working upon the same estates, 

 and under the same circumstances as to locality, size of timber, &c,, we 

 have found that man for man the earnings of some parties have ranged 25 

 per cent, above others. 



The price of bark has varied according to quality and situation: £5 15s. 

 in the woods has been about the average. We have paid 32s. per ton of 

 20 cwt. for stripping and stacking, 4s. 6d. per 100 for cutting up and tying 

 oak-top faggots, and 3s. per cord for cutting up and stacking the wood. 

 Good posts trimmed and turned out Gd. each, and spars 2d. each. The 

 chips and " scramble," or small branches and dead wood, which the men 

 are allowed to take for themselves, form a goodly and acceptable heap at 

 the rear of many a cottage residence. A. J. B, 



