!234 THE PRACTICAL PLANTER. 



and to the thickness of about six or eight 

 inches. The large, boardy pieces are set up 

 on end, leaning against the horses, or being 

 formed into small pyramidal stacks. Due at- 

 tention must be paid to turning the bark 

 once, or perhaps twice a day, according to 

 the state of the weather. Good hay wea- 

 ther is good weather for barking. Gentle 

 showers are beneficial ; but long continued 

 rains are productive of much evil ; nor is the 

 bark the better for being dried too fast. 



A careful hagman will take pains to lay 

 the strong boardy pieces of the trunk in 

 such a manner as to shoot off the wet, in 

 continued rains, from the smaller bark of 

 the extremities ; at the same time, preserv- 

 ing, as much as possible, the colour of the 

 inner bark, and consequently, the value of 

 the whole, by turning the natural surface 

 outwards. For, it is chiefly by the high- 

 brown colour of the inner rind, and by ita 

 astringent effect upon the palate, when tasted, 

 that the tanner or merchant will judge of its 

 value. These 'properties are lost, if through 

 neglect, or by vicissitude of the weather, the 

 inner bark be blanched. 



