TRANSACTIONS 



OF THE 



ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



I. The Home Pitwood Supply. 



By J. H. Milne Home. 



The present war has brought home to the population of these 

 islands, in a manner never before realised, the extent of our 

 dependence upon foreign supplies for innumerable articles of 

 necessity. This condition of affairs is fairly obvious as regards 

 foodstuffs, and has received much attention in recent years in 

 newspapers and books. 



It may, however, be safely asserted that few persons outside 

 the trades directly concerned, had any idea that the collieries 

 of England, Wales and Scotland were almost wholly dependent 

 upon foreign supplies of pitwood for carrying on their operations 

 and producing coal for domestic and industrial purposes. 



It has been stated on reliable authority that the annual 

 consumption of pitwood in Scottish coal-mines is about 

 280,000,000 lineal feet, and that its value is equal to 6d. per 

 ton of coal produced. This pitwood is mainly in the round, and 

 varies from 2 inches diameter at the small end up to about 

 6 inches. There is also great variation in the length of the 

 pieces. Generally speaking ''short" pitwood may measure 

 from 2 ft. 9 ins. to 6 feet, and "long" pitwood 10 feet to 14 feet. 

 The size which seems to be in most general use is 3 inches 

 diameter at the small end. Sizes vary largely in different 

 districts and different pits — an important consideration being 

 the thickness of the seams of coal being worked. The following 

 figures refer to the consumption of pitwood in a group of 

 Lanarkshire pits, and may be taken as fairly typical : — 

 Size of Pitwood. Per Cent. Lineal Feet. 



12 



59 



14 



5 



4h „ 2 



«; „ 8 



VOL. XXIX. PART I. 



