648 UTILIZATION OF BARK AND ITS CONSTITUENTS. 



Here, the lowest part of the bark up to 1J meters (4 feet 

 10 inches) is removed from standing stems, which are then 

 felled level with the ground, but the stumps not completely 

 severed ; the top is removed and peeled by beating, whilst the 

 bark from the rest of the stem is removed by the scalpel. 

 Such a method is preferable to felling the whole stem before 

 peeling, for the quality of the bark is not impaired, and the 

 'valuable upper bark can be utilised as well as in the other 

 method. 



(d) Drying the Bark. No part of the business of harvesting 

 bark has such influence on its value as the way in which it is 

 dried. Any neglect here may cause considerable loss. The 

 less rain falls on the peeled bark, and the more quickly the 

 drying process is conducted, the better. Observations made 

 by Gantter * show that rain may deprive the bark of 70 per 

 cent, of its tannin, the relative loss being more considerable 

 with rich bark than with inferior material. If the rain falls 

 at the commencement of the drying process, it is chiefly the 

 tannin which is washed away; later-on, other soluble sub- 

 stances in the bark. Undoubtedly rain is more disastrous on 

 freshly-peeled bark than on bark nearly dried ; but the effect 

 depends also on the persistence of the rain. Tanners fear 

 the effects of rain most on dried bark, but probably only on 

 account of its consequent loss in weight. The chief point in 

 this work is, therefore, to effect the drying of the peeled bark 

 in such a way that the almost certain spring- showers may 

 cause it to lose as little tannin as possible, and mildew may 

 not ensue. The best conditions for drying are to isolate the 

 bark from the moisture of the ground, to expose it fully to air 

 currents and protect it from spring-showers. It would have 

 the best effect on the quality of the bark if light sheds were 

 erected in the felling-areas to keep-off the rain. In Hungary, 

 Transylvania, etc., bark is heaped on well-ventilated stages 

 and protected from the rain and dew by large tarpaulins, 

 mats made of reeds, corrugated iron sheets, etc. These 

 coverings are supplied, not only in rainy weather, but regu- 

 larly every night to keep off the dew. In many places the 

 pieces of bark are piled like a roof, or in a pyramidal shape, 



* Ilandclslilatt fill 1 \Valtlri y-ru!_ r !iissc. XV. Year, No. !<". 



