CLEARING THE CROP 



155 



the mallet is to be deprecated, as it spoils the quality 

 of the bark. 



If there is much moss or lichen on the bark, it must be 

 scraped or brushed off. A three-cornered piece of steel 

 fitted to the end of a short handle is generally used for 

 scraping, but I have found that a brush with steel bristles 



,Ar 



A 



JB 



Fig. 15. 

 A, Barking tools ; and B, Bark rack. 



gets into the crevices of the bark better and makes a 

 cleaner job. This work can be done best before the bark 

 is taken off. 



After the tree is stripped, the bark should be carried 

 or carted to an open space in the woods, or to an adjoining 

 field, and racked up. To make racks, poles are laid 

 along on forked sticks stuck upright in the ground, about 



