CLEARING AND TURFING. 11 



does not prove sufficient to bring down the trees, we pull 

 them down by means of a tackle. The trunks are sawed 

 up into logs for box-boards, or cut up into cord wood, or 

 given away, as the case may be all depending upon the 

 size and quality of the timber, and the proximity to 

 market. 



The refuse tops and brush are piled up in heaps and 

 burned on the bog, as soon as they are dry enough. It 

 may require six weeks, more or less, according to the 

 weather, for these to dry. When in proper condition, 

 the fire is started as soon after a rain as possible, in order 

 to avoid any danger of setting fire to the woods or bog. 

 Whenever a fire occurs, it makes bad work, as the peat 

 and moss, of which the bog is mainly composed, will take 

 fire readily, and it is hard to extinguish it when, once 

 tinder way. This gives us another reason why, in select- 

 ing a bog, it is especially desirable that one with a good 

 flow of water from a running stream should be chosen. 

 In case of fire, by closing the gate, the water can be con- 

 ducted through the ditches until they are filled, and the 

 surface of the bog covered and the fire, however obdurate, 

 will have to yield to its master. It was only in the past 

 season that vast tracts of the most desirable of the New 

 Jersey bogs were ruined from this cause fires having 

 spread among them, and there being no adequate supply 

 of water, immense damage was done, which it will take 

 years to repair. 



One can not be too particular in eradicating the roots 

 of maple trees and huckleberry bushes. They sprout and 

 grow rapidly, and if not thoroughly cleared out, give 

 more trouble than all other trees and shrubs combined. 



The surface of the bog, after the trees and underbrush 

 have been disposed of, is next cut into segments of about 

 eighteen inches square, by means of an implement called 

 a " Turfing Axe," made especially for this purpose. Turf- 

 ing axes, which were formerly made to order only, can 



