232 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
Sleepers, which measure from 2 feet 6 inches to 2 feet 9 inches 
in length, with a cross-section of 5 inches by 24 inches, and are 
sawn from butt-ends which are too thick for props or bars. By 
far the larger quantity of timber used is in the form of ‘“ props.” 
The wood delivered to the mines from the Raith Estate is, for 
the most part, beech, elm, and other hardwoods of rough quality, 
sawn out of tops and branches into pieces from 2} feet to 4 feet 
in length, and 3 inches by 3 inches in cross-section. The miners 
do not much like this class of wood, as it is comparatively heavy, 
and is difficult to handle on account of splinters. They prefer 
the imported wood, because, being better seasoned, it is lighter, 
it has a smoother surface and a more uniform thickness, it is 
more free from knots, and it is also stronger, on account of the 
narrowness of its annual rings. They prefer spruce, because 
that species excels Scots fir in most of the above qualities. For 
imported round spruce and Scots fir props and bars, delivered 
at the mines, the average rate now paid amounts to 4s. 13d. per 
hundred linear feet, which is equivalent to 8d. per (quarter-girth) 
cubic foot. Wood of the same species, brought for the most part 
from the north of Scotland by sea, in the form of pit-lengths 
cut from round poles, and partially squared with the axe, to 
reduce bulk and weight during transport, is paid for at an 
average rate of 3s. per hundred linear feet, delivered at the 
mines; this rate amounts to about 6d. per (quarter-girth) cubic 
foot, which would represent a price of 5d. in the Raith woods. 
This timber is not so well seasoned as that which is imported 
from abroad, and it is therefore heavier; it is also of a much 
rougher quality. For the rough sawn wood from the Raith 
Estate, the price now paid at the pit’s mouth amounts to about 
2s, Td. per hundred linear feet, or about 5d. per (quarter-girth) 
cubic foot, which represents from 3d. to 33d. in the forest. A 
few years ago, the prices.paid were higher than this. 
Tu1is WorkKING CIRCLE TO BE DEVOTED TO THE PRODUCTION © 
or Pit-Woop. 
In view of the large local demand for pit-wood, it has 
been decided to devote this working circle of 808} acres to 
the production of that class of timber; and the ground will 
ultimately be stocked with crops of spruce, where it is suitable 
to that species, while elsewhere Scots fir will be grown. The 
rotation has been fixed at 40 years, at which age it is assumed 
