The Manufacture of Charcoal 235 



As in the case of ordinary coppice wood, the buckthorn 

 for charcoal making may be cut every sixth or seventh year, 

 the straightest shoots when sorted in about 5 ft. lengths 

 being tied in bundles which are about a yard in girth. The 

 buckthorn being a gross feeder, manuring the land after the 

 removal of a crop has been found advantageous. 



Although largely imported from Holland, and other parts 

 of the Continent, home-grown wood is preferred, as it 

 produces a much superior charcoal for the manufacture of 

 explosives. Unfortunately, however, home supplies are so 

 limited that foreign wood is imported in considerable 

 quantity, and as there was a scarcity before the war, the 

 probabilities are that, with our greatly increased consump- 

 tion of charcoal explosives, a dearth of suitable wood is 

 now being felt. 



With the present small remuneration attaching to the 

 cultivation of coppice or underwood, which under ordinary 

 circumstances does not exceed 4 per acre, the cultivation of 

 the alder buckthorn is to be recommended, particularly as 

 the price is at least quadrupled. The cultivation of this is 

 quite simple, while the quality of soil required need not be 

 better than that which produces a crop of chestnut or 

 hazel. In cultivating the alder buckthorn for charcoal 

 purposes the following rules should be observed : 



1. It will not succeed satisfactorily in sandy, poor or 

 water-logged soils ; rich, well-manured loam being preferred. 



2. The ground should either be trenched or ploughed 

 and cleared of all rough-growing weeds the winter before 

 planting. 



3. Plant seedlings or layers in the spring in lines about 

 5 ft. apart and the same distance from plant to plant. 



4. An annual clearance of weeds and loosening of the soil 

 between the rows of plants is recommended where a heavy 

 crop is expected. 



5. Induce the growth of stout clean shoots by liberal 

 feeding and clean cultivation. 



6. Cut the shoots close to the ground so as to prevent the 

 formation of long spurs and minimize the number of off- 

 shoots. Clean cutting with a sharp tool is imperative. 



