252 FELLING AND CONVERSION OF TIMBER. 



prefer. In country districts usually long thick faggots are in 

 demand : near towns they are preferred when not exceeding 

 80 pounds in weight ; they may be 1 J feet long and 2 feet 

 in girth, five smaller ones being bound-together to make a 

 faggot. 



The best withes are slender oak coppice-shoots, but hazel, 

 sallow and birch, etc., will serve the purpose. These withes are 

 freed from all side-shoots, and when freshly cut, or steeped in 

 water, are placed on a fire to make them pliable ; they are then 

 twisted like ropes into a loop at the thin end, through which the 

 thick end is drawn when they are fastened round the faggot. 



4. Removal of Wood previous to Conversion. 



It has been presupposed hitherto that the conversion of the 

 felled wood takes place on the felling-area near the stumps of 

 the felled trees, and this is generally the case. 



There are, however, circumstances in which it is necessary to 

 remove the wood from the felling-area, or at any rate away from 

 the stumps of the felled trees, before it is converted ; as in a 

 young crop, during the final stage of natural regeneration ; under 

 a shelter wood, in selection-fellings, cleanings and thinnings. 

 Splitting firewood and conversion of the easily transportable 

 poles and saplings may then be effected on neighbouring blanks, 

 roadsides, etc. 



Wherever the firewood before being stacked has to undergo 

 a further transport by water, sledge-roads or slides, it is advis- 

 able to convert it into short butts, and to split these up only 

 after they have been transported to a depot. 



5. Occasional Non-conversion of Firewood. 



Owing to the present greatly reduced price of firewood, 

 foresters often are obliged to give up converting it in the 

 regular way just described. Wood yielding only round billets 

 and faggots, especially from extensive thinnings, may then be 

 simply carried unshortened, including the crowns, to the nearest 

 roadside, and stacked between stakes. 



There are districts where there is absolutely no demand for 

 small poles, saplings, and branch-wood, as in many Alpine 



