CHAP, iv SYLVA 117 



coal-wains, which are made close with boards, pur- 

 posely to carry them to market : Of these coals the 

 grosser sort are commonly reserv'd for the forges and 

 iron-works ; the middling and smoother put up in 

 sacks, and carried by the colliers to London, and the 

 adjacent towns ; those which are char'd of the roots, 

 if pick'd out, are accounted best for chymical fires, 

 and where a lasting and extraordinary blast is requir'd. 



30. Coal for the powder-mills is made of alder- 

 wood (but limetree were much better, had we it in 

 that plenty as we easily might) cut, stack'd and set 

 on the hearth like the former : But first, ought the 

 wood to be wholly disbark'd (which work is to be 

 done about Midsummer before) and being throughly 

 dry, it may be coaled in the same method, the heap 

 or pile only somewhat smaller, by reason that they 

 seldom coal above five or six stacks at a time, laying 

 it but two lengths of the wood one above the other, 

 in form somewhat flatter on the top than what we 

 have described. Likewise do they fling all their 

 rubbish and dust on the top, and begin not to cover 

 at the bottom, as in the former example. In like 

 sort, when they have drawn up the fire in the tunnel, 

 and stopp'd it, they begin to draw down their dust 

 by degrees round the heap ; and this proportionably 

 as it fires, till they come about to the bottom ; all 

 which is dispatch'd in the space of two days. One 

 of these heaps will char threescore sacks of coal, 

 which may all be carried at one time in a waggon ; 

 and some make the Court-coals after the same manner. 

 Lastly, 



3 1 . Small-coals are made of the spray and brush- 

 wood which is shripped off from the branches of 

 copp'ce-wood, and which is sometimes bound up into 



