305 



4o have been faken to replace plantations of nnremmierative trees 

 hy more promising species. 



Rhammis FrangMla is a case in point, for, altliougli "^ild in 

 the southern parts of the British Isles and at one time cultivated 

 to some extent, it has been impossible for many years to secure 

 ihe required quautity of wood in this country, and im])ortaiions 

 have been made from Belgium and Germany. The value of the 

 wood at the present time will be appreciated from the fact that 

 when carbonized, the charcoal is recognised as one of the most 

 important of all charcoals used in the manufacture of explosives, 

 its inflammable character making it peculiarly useful as an 

 ingredient for smokeless powder. 



Even before the commencement of the present war, manu- 

 facturers experienced a difficulty in securing the necessary amount 

 of wood ; therefore, there appears to be good reason for land- 

 owners in this country, and particularly in the home coimtics, 

 laying down plantations to replace coppice, which at present 



hardly pays working expenses. 



Under "normal conditions E. Frangula is found as a bush 

 6 to 15 feet liigh with upright branches, or sometimes as a small 

 tree 20 feet high, with a trunk 6 to 9 inches in diameter. The 

 leaves are deciduous, bright green, oval, and 2 to 3 inches long 

 by 1 to l\ inches wide. The flowers are greenish-yellow and 

 borne in May, and .they are followed by small, round fruits, 

 which are alternately red and black when ripening. 



Tall-, straight shoots with few side branches are most approved 

 for charcoal, and such shoots may be from \ an inch to 2 inches 

 in diameter; larger wood can be used, but it is usually passed oyer 

 in favour of the smaller siiJes. The wood is either cut in spring 

 when the sap is flowing freely, or in winter when at rest. In the 

 former case the bark is peeled off at once as is done with spring- 

 cut willows, but in the other instance the wood is boiled or 

 steamed before peeling. Great care is taken to keep the newly- 

 peeled wood free from dirt, and provision is made so that it does 

 not come in contact with the ground, for any foreign matter has 

 to be thoroughly cleaned awav before the wood can be used. The 

 wood is usually sold to the' powder factories as soon as it^ is 

 peeled, and in normal times the purchasers keep it for a period 

 varving from one to three years before turning^ it into charcoal. 

 To keep it clean during the process of seasoning it is often stacked 

 and thatched, in the same way as hay or corn, as soon as it 

 arrives at the factories. The exclusion of particles of sand and 

 grit from the charcoal is of vital importance; therefore, after being 

 thoroughly cleaned, the wood is placed m a closed cylinder for 

 carbonization, heat being applied from outside. It is difficult to 

 aav wliat the wood is worth at the present moment, but a te^^ 

 years ago it was quoted at from £10 to £14 a ton. 



The most suitable soil for /?. FranguU is a moderately goo 

 loam, but as a rule it may be expected to thrive where the W 

 grows well. Propagation should be conducted by means of seeds 

 sown in boxes in a ?old frame or in beds of ^oil-drained soil o it- 

 of-doors. The young plants should be placed 6 ^^^^^^^^/.''^f \\ ^ 

 musery rows 1 foot apart, and, when about 9 inches high, thej 



