24 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



This method requires less leveling than where holes are made by 

 the use of powder. It is said that one man can burn out thirty 

 large stumps a week by this method and can cut up and pile the 

 logs near by at the same time. 



Another method of burning out stumps is to split the stump 

 with a small charge of powder, which nearly always makes a large 

 hole underneath and around the stump. This hole is then filled 

 with kindling and other wood and fired. Of the remaining roots, 

 those that lie near the surface are grubbed out, while the others are 

 cut off to a depth of from 12 to 18 inches below the surface. 



Charcoaling or pitting stumps, as it is called, is a method of 

 burning out stumps that has been little used, but where tried has 

 proved very efficient. 



The bark should be removed from the stumps in the spring or 

 early summer to allow the outside of the stump to become thor- 

 oughly dry. Often it is well to dig a trench around, or to level the 

 ground near the stump ; then a ring of wood is stood or piled closely 

 about the stump to a height of 2 feet and 1 foot thick. Dry rotten 

 wood or bark such as is found in abundance on any new land will 

 answer the purpose. This is then completely covered with sod to a 

 depth of several inches, except a small space on the side the wind 

 is blowing against. Where no sod is to be found the wood can first 

 be covered with a layer of bark, small brush, or ferns to keep the 

 loose earth from sifting through. Fine kindling is placed in the 

 open space and fire started and allowed to burn openly until the ring 

 of wood is well afire; then a piece of bark or a bunch of ferns or 

 grass is thrown over the hole and the sod covering completed. The 

 stump must now be closely watched and the fire not allowed to burn 

 through the covering, more sod being added as needed. The whole 

 secret of burning the stump completely is to keep the covering in- 

 tact. If the roots are kept well covered and are re-covered as soon 

 as the earth caves, exposing them to the air, they will burn out com- 

 pletely. This method is very economical for large stumps. Small 

 stumps can be grubbed or pulled out to better advantage. After 

 ten days it will be found that the stumps require very little atten- 

 tion. 



Use of Powder in Clearing Land. At the present time few 

 undertake to clear even a small tract of land without the use of 

 powder, and in the hands of an experienced man powder can be 

 made to do a large amount of work at comparatively small expense. 

 The powder in general use at the present time is known as stumping 

 powder and is put up in sticks of l 1 /^ by 8 inches, about 65 of which 

 come in a box of 50 pounds. The charge of powder is placed as 

 nearly as possible beneath the center of the stump. The powder 

 should be placed on the hardpan if the soil is not too deep; other- 

 wise it is placed from 2 to 3 feet below the surface. 



To get the best results the sticks are removed from the paper 

 wrappers and packed closely together in the hole beneath the stump. 

 This can not be done in wet places. The powder works best when 

 the temperature is about 70 F. This powaer has more effect when 



