AND THE PROCESS OP CHARRING. 247 



all round, the size of an ordinary kiln being from 15 to 18 feet in 

 diameter at base. To fill up inequalities in the surface of the slope, 

 all the small wood is chopped into 9-inch lengths, and laid round 

 and round until every crevice is filled up. In fact, from first to 

 last, it is of great importance to pack the wood close, as it gives 

 the kiln greater stability during the charring process ; if it is 

 loosely thrown together, there is sure to be a collapse somewhere, 

 destroying not only the conformation of the kiln, but bringing 

 down a quantity of turf or sand amongst the burning mass, that 

 will perhaps extinguish a great part of the fire. The kiln must 

 now be covered with turf, beginning at the bottom and working 

 upwards, care being taken to fit the turfs close together, in order 

 to prevent undue ventilation. A large round turf is required to 

 cap the whole ; but before putting on this bonnet, it is necessary 

 to light the kiln. This is done by placing some old charcoal, 

 shavings, and dry split wood, into a basin-shaped cavity on the 

 top, which must be left when the kiln is built. After the fire is 

 kindled, the round turf is put on lightly, and when the fire gets a 

 firm hold, it is pressed closely down. These operations at the top 

 must be done from a short ladder, with iron spikes at the bottom 

 to prevent it slipping. At this stage one would think that the 

 worst was past, and that it would be comparatively easy to watch 

 the fire silently doing its work. But of all fires that ever burned, 

 that in a charcoal kiln is the most capricious, requiring at times 

 the greatest amount of coaxing to draw it in one direction, while 

 it burns with vigour in another. 



When the smoke begins to tell that the fire is doing its work, 

 holes have to be made in the turf with a pointed stick at intervals 

 round the top ; these are intended to draw the fire downwards, 

 and have to be made daily further down the sides until the fire 

 reaches the ground. Another duty requiring attention is feeding. 

 In four or five hours from the time of lighting, the turf bonnet 

 must be lifted, and wood put in to fill up the waste that has 

 already taken place. This feeding has to be carried on for three 

 or four days, and is generally done from the top. Sometimes, 

 however, a sudden depression takes place in the side, necessitating 

 the removal of the tui*f, and a good feed has to be administered 

 there as well. 



Day and night the closest watch must be kept on the move- 

 ments of the fire, checking it in one place, and encouraging it in 

 another, until the close of the eighth or ninth day, when all the 



