828 The "y 07 1 ma I of Forestry. 



influenced by the situation and exposure of the trees, as well as by the 

 character of the soil and the weather. Sometimes the upper branches 

 of a tree will strip freely while the trunk bark remains bound ; at other 

 times the tops exposed to frosts or cold easterly winds remain almost 

 immovable, while the more sheltered trunks peel freely. All this 

 should be ascertained before felling a tree, as it should be stripped 

 within twenty-four hours of the time of cutting dow^u. Even one side 

 of a tree will sometimes strip, while the other side resists the peeling 

 iron. An experienced eye will generally tell the fitness of a tree at a 

 glance. All hammering of the bark should be avoided, as this operation 

 drives out the tannin, and thereby reduces the value as well as the weight, 

 produces a black colour inside, and causes rapid decay in a bad season. 



Elaborate directions as to the arrangement of gangs and the exact 

 form and shape of tools are unnecessary. Every district has its 

 peculiarities in these respects. Tools must be adapted to the 

 strength and skill of those who use them, as it is not every David 

 who can wield the sword of a Goliath. The necessary ones are heavy 

 axes for falling, lighter ones for severing branches, billhooks for smaller 

 branches, and for cutting round the lengths of bark upon the trunk, 

 peeling irons for stripping, and wooden malls for beating refractory 

 bark, and for loosening that upon the smaller branches. These form 

 the chief stock-in-trade of the " flawers," as bark strippers are called 

 in Kent. The wooden mall should be of ash, about four inches square 

 at the head, seven inches long, with an edge available for opening the 

 bark for removal. The stripping chisel is generally about two and 

 a half by two inches, the entire handle being a foot long. 



Up to six or eight inches in diameter trees are generally felled with 

 the axe ; above that size it is economy both of time and timber to use 

 the cross-cut saw. Before inserting the saw a few feet of the body 

 bark should be removed, as much for the greater convenience of 

 stripping as to prevent its being damaged. The larger trees being 

 peeled where they fall, the smaller ones are frequently carried out near 

 the stacking ground, and stripped while one end rests upon a horse 

 formed of two stout sticks driven obliquely into the ground, and crossing 

 near the top. 



The trunk or body bark is generally removed in lengths of thirty or 

 thirty-six inches, and laid aside for subsequent use in covering up the 

 stack. As soon as stripped the bark should be at once carried to the 

 stacking ground, and carefully arranged upon the stages. Any 

 exposure to the sun of the inner surface not only injures the colour 

 of the bark, but also greatly lessens its astringent properties. Well- 

 harvested bark should finish up with a bright creamy colour; a dull 

 brownish hue indicates little tannin property, or injury from exposure 

 to sun, rain, &c. 



