S4^ On the Fahricatlon of Chai^coal in the t'orejl ie Benon. 



inches with earth : it is then fuffered to cool for a day, and 

 the charcoal is taken out. This operation lads eight days in 

 winter, and only four in funnner. At the latter period the 

 furnace is watched day and night. 



The pieces of charcoal extracted are often three inches 

 and more in diameter, and fufliciently long to be made up 

 into bundles, which are tranfported on the backs of mules to 

 the diftance of five or fix leagues : the fmailer fragments are 

 put into facks. 



This charcoal, which is very black, exceedingly brilliant, 

 and fonorou?, has two qualities which caufe it to be much 

 fought for in preference to all others ; it poiTclTes more a6li- 

 vity, and lalis longer. It is attended with the inconvenience 

 of emitting an odour, but it is well known that this is one of 

 the characters of the beft charcoal. 



It is preferred for the kitchen, and for ironing linen. For 

 the latter ufe it is put into iron boxes, called at Rochelle 

 jlafques. It is employed alfo bv blackfmilhs when they have 

 no common coals. That in large pieces is moft eftcemed. 



The latter is fold at feven or eight francs per cwt. delivered 

 at Rochelle ; but if the forcll of Benon were taken proper 

 care of, this price might be diminiflied *. 



This method of making charcoal dilTers from that defcribed 

 in the Colledvm des Arts et dcs Mulers, ihofe of Brie and 

 Burgundy mentioned in the Encyclopul'ie, and ihofe in the 

 departments around Paris. 



,1(1. By the inclofure of walls, which mufi: fecure the fur- 

 nace much better than. Uie hurdles employed in thofe coun- 

 tries, and which the workman places when he thinks proper 

 on the fide from which the wind proceeds, this inclofure mufi: 

 render the charring more uniform and more economical. 



2d. By the care taken not to referve for firewood, as is 

 done in feveral phices, the lower part of the wood, which, be- 

 ing more compaft than the branches, ought neceflarily to 

 furniih better charcoal. 



3d. Becaufe the pieces of woad are longer, and twice as 

 large as thofe eniploved in the other methods, and becaufe 

 they are put into the furnace without being fplit. 



4th. Becaufe, inftead of raifing, as uiual, four or five flo- 

 rifii, difpofed in the form of a cone or pyramid, one only is 



• There are reckoned to be eighteen furnace chambers in the village of 

 Benon, and one st L^ilnij^ne. The foreft was (o much deflroyi-d dming 

 the revolution, that at prtlent no nriore thi.n Icvn or eight ciianiutrs are 

 occupied [r (carctly i'uppliis enough of firewood. No more thwii 20,000 

 weight of charcoal is fabricated oa it. About thirty or tony years ago 

 it furniflied ten timesi as much. 



conftru6led. 



