FOREST UTILISATION 105 



Minor Products of the Forest 



All forest products other than timber and wood come 

 under the term minor produce. The most important article 

 included in the latter category is bark the bark of Oak, 

 and though to a very much less extent, that of Spruce and 

 Larch. Bark is collected for the tannin which it contains, but 

 its price has fallen considerably of recent years owing to the 

 more extended use of substitutes, among which Quebracho 

 wood from South America may be mentioned. 



Oak coppice bark (smooth or silver bark) provides the 

 best material for tanning, being much preferred to the fissured 

 and more corky bark from older stems. 



The bark from the lower portions is most easily removed 

 while the tree is still standing ; when all has been peeled 

 from the base to a height that can be conveniently reached, 

 the tree is felled and the bark from the upper parts is taken. 



The operation of peeling is carried out generally in May ; 

 special instruments the most important of which is the 

 peeling-scalpel or barking-iron being used. Mallets for 

 beating and loosening the bark, chisels, etc., are also em- 

 ployed. The bark is easily injured by rain, and the speedier 

 and more thoroughly the drying process can be effected, the 

 better are the results. Airy sheds or mere temporary erec- 

 tions, such as iron sheeting, or tarpaulins, are made use of, or 

 simple frames and trestles can be employed to allow free 

 circulation of air about the bark, and thus hasten the drying. 



Spruce and Silver Fir, if felled in summer, should have 

 their bark removed to prevent the spread of injurious insects, 

 which make such stems their breeding places. The bark 

 thus obtained, if not valued for tanning purposes, may be of 

 use as fuel. 



The soil-covering of the forest, consisting of fallen leaves, 

 twigs, and so forth, in process of decomposition, is often 

 much valued by the agriculturist, who applies it as manure 

 to his fields. This litter sometimes requires to be disturbed, 

 as, for instance, in hoeing it aside from strips in prepara- 



