ROUGH CONVERSION. 245 



ladder-wood and wheelwright's wood should he sawn straight 

 at the hutt. 



vii. Removal of I'xtrk. 



All stems felled during summer in coniferous forests are 

 usually harked to prevent insect-attacks, facilitate transport 

 and preserve the white colour of the wood. The wood may be 

 harked completely, whenever this can he done, as in spring 

 and early summer. During autumn and winter the bark can 

 be removed only partially. 



Although complete harking gives the wood a better appear- 

 ance, yet the rapid drying which ensues frequently causes 

 numerous cracks into which spores of fungi are conveyed by 

 the rain, and then the timber is liable to decay unless rapidly 

 transported to its destination. 



In this respect partial barking is superior. The tools used 

 for barking are shown in Figs. 141), 150. and 151, and com- 

 pared with the axe they save 50 per cent, of labour. Usually 

 large stems with rough bark, especially during winter, are 

 barked with the axe or adze. 



It has recently become usual to bark round stacked pieces, 

 especially pulp-wood ; also the larger poles and especially 

 hop-poles, but then only partial harking is necessary. 



(b) Preparation of Firewood. 



Firewood, especially split and round firewood, is prepared 

 from the remains of the stem and branches after conversion 

 of the timber ; or whole firewood trees, as in beech forests, are 

 freed from branches, marked-off into lengths, and then sawn 

 into short butts. 



In cutting-up butts for firewood, chiefly the curved saw is 

 used, and the work is assisted by wedges, which are inserted 

 as soon as the saw-cut is deep enough. Woodcutters must be 

 careful not to cut obliquely, as they may easily do by mistake 

 on sloping ground. The cut must be at right angles to the 

 axis of the tree, if the cords of firewood are to have a good 

 uniform appearance. As a rule, the larger branches are also 

 cut into lengths with the saw, which should be used in convert- 

 ing wood whenever it is possible. Only on very steep, rocky 



