596 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



those who have been in the practice of doing this frequently, it will be found very 

 easy, and will be done very speedily, and with a very considerable degree of accuracy. 

 The proper method of learning to do this correctly is, when a person cuts an oak wood 

 for the first time (or, even were the work repeated several times) ; he sliould then, in 

 order to make himself perfectly acquainted with ascertaining the quantity of bark that a 

 stool, or even the stump of a stool will produce, go before the peelers, and select a stool 

 or stem ; after having examined it narrowly, he supposes it to produce a certain quantity 

 of bark, and marks this down in his memorandum book. He then causes a person to 

 peel it by itself, dry it, and carefully tie it up and weigh it, and compare it with the 

 weight he supposed it would produce, and he will at once see how far his calculation ap- 

 proaches the truth. A stem of oak, from a natural stool, suppose it to measure in girth 

 two inches, by seven feet long, will contain two solid inches, and one-third of an inch, ac- 

 cording to the measurement of Hoppus. This stem or shoot will produce two poundsi 

 two ounces of bark. Again, a stem or shoot of natural oak, measuring four inches in 

 girth, by nine feet in length, will be found to contain one solid foot of wood, and will 

 produce thirteen pounds and a half of bark." (Forester's Guide, 170.) 



3766. IFfien growing, trees are valued, an allowance is made from their cubic contents, 

 for the bark. The rule given by Monteith is, " When the girth or circumference is any 

 thing from twelve inches up to twenty-four inches, then deduct two inches ; from twen- 

 ty-four to thirty-six, three inches ; from thirty-six to forty-eight, four inches ; from 

 forty-eight to seventy-two, five inches; and above seventy-two, six inches. These 

 deductions," he says, " will be found to answer in almost all trees ; unless in such as 

 are very old, and have rough and corky barks, or barks covered with moss, when an 

 extra allowance is to be made." {Forester s Guide, 180.) 



3767. In valuing measurable oak-trees, many persons proceed on the data that every 

 cubic foot of timber will produce a stone (sixteen pounds) of bark. This, Monteith 

 says, " is not always correct ;" and he states the following facts from his own expe- 

 rience, with a view to assist beginners in ascertaining the quantity of bark from diiferent 

 trees " An oak-tree, about forty years old, measured down to four inches and a half as. 

 the side of the square, and weighing only the bark peeled off the timber that is measured, 

 without including the bark of the spray, &c., every foot of measured timber will 

 produce from nine to eleven pounds of bark. An oak-tree of eighty years old, weighing^ 

 only the bark peeled off the measurable timber, as above, every foot will produce from 

 ten to thirteen pounds of bark. Every foot of large birch timber, peeled as above, will 

 produce fourteen pounds of bark. Every foot of mountain-ash, as above, will produce- 

 eleven pounds and a half of bark. Every foot of the willow, unless a very old one,, 

 will produce from nine to eleven pounds of bark. Every foot of larch fir, not exceed- 

 ing thirty years old, will produce from seven, to nine pounds of bark. The bark of 

 trees, particularly the oak, is peeled off, every branch and shoot, down as small as ai> 

 inch in circumference." {Forester s Guide, 189.) 



3768. The price of timber, like every other article in general use, varies with the sup- 

 ply and demand ; and is easily ascertained from the timber-merchants at the different 

 sea-ports ; as is that of bark, charcoal, and fire- wood from the tanners and coal-mer- 

 chants. 



3769. The modes of disposing of timber trees in common use are, selling the trees 

 standing ; by auction ; by receiving written proposals ; or by bargain and sale j 2d, cut- 

 ting down the trees, and selling them in the rough, by either of these methods; 

 3d, converting the fallen trees ; that is, cutting them up into the planks or pieces to 

 which they are best adapted, or which are most eligible in the given situation. The first 

 method seems the best, especially on a large scale, and also for the disposal of copse- 

 wood or osier crops. 



Chap. X. 

 Of the Formation and Management of Orchards. 



3770. The formation of orchards is to be considered among the permanent improve- 

 ments of an estate ; and should be kept in view in its first arrangement or laying out. No 

 temporary occupier could afford to plant an orchard without extraordinary encouragement 

 from his landlord. Orchards in this respect may be ranked with timber plantations, 

 and both, subjects together agree in belonging equally to agriculture and gardening. 

 Orchards have doubtless existed in Britain for many ages as appendages to wealthy 

 religious establishments ; but as objects of farming, or field culture, they do not appear 

 to have been adopted till about the beginning of the seventeenth century {Lawson). 

 They were then introduced by Lord Scudamore in Herefordshire, in which county, and 



