NOTES AND QUERIES. 55 



are required. In addition to this quantity, statistics show that 

 there is imported, chiefly from Russia, about 15,000 to 20,000 

 cub. metres (over 600,000 cub. feet) of pit-wood ; but on the 

 other hand there is exported from France for Germany, England, 

 and Belgium about ten times that quantity. This exportation 

 could be developed considerably, and the native consumption 

 of pit-wood would then be appreciably increased. 



" Both hardwoods and softwoods are used for mining timber. 

 About 25 per cent, of the consumption is of the former species 

 and the remainder of the latter. The consumption of softwood 

 pit timber tends to increase because of the necessity for filling 

 up wet places in the mines. For this purpose it does not seem 

 to be necessary to use more durable woods in the shape of hard- 

 woods, the price of which is much higher. Experience has 

 shown that, given equal conditions of depth and temperature, 

 softwoods are almost as durable as hardwoods. 



"Hardwoods are specially used for "hanoches"^ and lath- 

 ing, while softwoods are used for propping purposes, but it is 

 noteworthy that many collieries have a distinct preference for 

 hardwoods. It is desirable that this use should become more 

 general, for if the growers of softwoods had less outlet on this 

 account they would be encouraged to grow more mature soft- 

 wood timber, which has a higher value at 45 to 50 years' 

 growth, while in the case of the broader-leaved species 120 

 years' growth are necessary to obtain the same result. 



"Pit-wood of all lengths and sizes is used from the younger 

 wood in the shape of props of i m. 20 in length and from 12 to 

 18 cms. in circumference, to pit-wood of 3 metres in length by 

 55 to 60 cms. in circumference, including pit-wood of 2 metres 50 

 in length and 18 to 26 cms. in circumference. 



" It is our opinion that the manufacturers of pit-wood should 

 encourage the coalmasters to buy poles in the longer lengths. 

 These could be cut at the mines into dimensions according to 

 requirements, and this arrangement would facilitate the produc- 

 tion of pit-wood for the timber merchants, who are finding it 

 more and more difficult to obtain manual labour. This system 

 has already been adopted at a number of collieries. 



" The dimensions indicated above show that the thinnings of 

 thirty-five years' old crops of hardwoods would be almost entirely 



^ The translator is unable to find a suitable English equivalent for this 

 word. 



