288 FELLING AND CONVERSION OF TIMBER. 



ensure stability : at the same time, the men should pile the 

 wood in such a way as to keep the top of the stack continually 

 horizontal. 



In order to pile the stacks closely, and also to protect the 

 W 7 ood as much as possible from rain, it is better to place the 

 curved sides of the billets above and their points downwards 

 (Figs. 181 and 182), except in the lowest row. The front 

 surface of the stack also should be quite level and vertical, and 

 as the billets are of different thickness at the two ends, they 

 should be placed alternately with their thick and thin ends at 

 either face of the stack. The first cord binding the stakes 

 should be placed at a height of Ij feet (half a meter), and the 

 second at 3 to 4 feet (1 to 1J meters). 



Stacking stump-wood is most difficult, as the shape of the 

 pieces is so variable. Split pieces of small stumps are placed in 

 the ordinary direction, but the larger pieces have to be arranged 

 according to the skill of the operator, so as to fit in with the 

 others. Spaces that cannot be otherwise stacked should be filled 

 in with broken pieces and small roots, but round pieces should 

 not be used for this purpose ; a stack of stump-wood should 

 contain nothing but pieces of stumps and roots. 



When the workman has raised the stack to nearly its proper 

 height, he should measure it carefully so that the proper 

 height may be attained, but not exceeded. To ensure this, 

 it is often necessary to finish the top of a stack of split billets 

 with a layer of round ones. 



Stacks should, if possible, be placed alongside one another 

 in long connected rows. This economises space and secures 

 the stacks from being overturned. In case the firewood has 

 to remain over winter in the forest, the long stacks are, if 

 possible, placed in parallel rows, with intervals between them 

 narrower than the length of the billets, and the topmost 

 pieces are arranged to form a complete roof over all the 

 stacks. 



(c) Shrinkage. As green stacked wood shrinks while dry- 

 ing, and if not removed for some time will lose its bark, in 

 many countries, such as Bavaria, Switzerland, etc., it has 

 become customary to increase the height of the stacks, so as 

 to allow for shrinkage. In Prussia and other German 



