CHAP, iv S Y L V A 113 



We will begin with that sort which is us'd for the 

 iron-works, because the rest are made much after the 

 same manner, and with very little difference. 



The best wood for this is good oak, cut into 

 lengths of three foot, as they size it for the stack : 

 This is better than the cord-wood, though of a large 

 measure, and much us'd in Essex. 



The wood cut, and set in stacks ready for the 

 coaling, chuse out some level place in the copp'ce, 

 the most free from stubs, &c. to make the hearth on: 

 In the midst of this area drive down a stake for your 

 centre, and with a pole, having a ring fasten'd to one 

 of the extreams (or else with a cord put over the 

 centre) describe a circumference from twenty, or 

 more feet semidiameter, according to the quantity of 

 your wood design'd for coaling, which being near, 

 may conveniently be chared on that hearth; and which 

 at one time may be 12, 16, 20, 24, even to 30 stack: 

 If 1 2 therefore be the quantity you will coal, a circle 

 whose diameter is 24 foot, will suffice for the hearth; 

 If 20 stack, a diameter of 32 foot ; I 30, 40 foot, 

 and so proportionably. 



Having thus marked out the ground, with mattocks, 

 haws, and fit instruments, bare it of the turf, and of 

 all other cumbustible stuff whatsoever, which you are 

 to rake up towards the peripherie, or out-side of the 

 circumference, for an use to be afterwards made of it ; 

 plaining and levelling the ground within the circle : 

 This done, the wood is to be brought from the nearest 

 part where it is stack'd, in wheel-barrows ; and first 

 the smallest of it plac'd at the utmost limit, or very 

 margin of the hearth, where it is to be set long-ways, 

 as it lay in the stack ; the biggest of the wood pitch, 

 or set up on end round about against the small wood, 



oo 



