254 Practical Forestry 



principal woods used are the so-called dogwood (RJiamnus 

 frangula), the white willow (Salix alba), and the common 

 alder (Alnus glutinosa), though not infrequently the hazel, 

 chestnut and our native RJiamnus catharticus are substi- 

 tuted. 



Charcoal produced from the dogwood is, however, pre- 

 ferred to any other, as this forms a very explosive powder, 

 used for military small- arms and for sporting purposes. 

 For this purpose the dogwood is cut when an inch in 

 diameter, and, if possible, when not more than of ten years' 

 growth. 



Although iron cylinders or retorts are more economical 

 in the making of charcoal, yet for various reasons the 

 primitive method of pit-burning is to be recommended for 

 general estate purposes. The manufacture of charcoal 

 in this way having received due attention elsewhere in this 

 book, it need not be repeated here. It should be remem- 

 bered that small wood is more profitable for charcoal- 

 making than that of a larger size, not only because the 

 former requires little or no cutting and splitting, but for 

 the main reason that it can be procured at less cost, and pro- 

 duces more charcoal, weight for weight. Even at the 

 present low price of charcoal about Is. per bushel 

 there is a fair profit attached to the making of it, as will 

 be seen from the following figures, which may be taken 

 as fairly representative. A cord of ordinary mixed wood, 

 which should measure, after being stacked, 12 ft. long, 3 ft. 

 wide, and 3 ft. high, will usually, when properly burned, 

 yield 35 bushels of charcoal, and this, at the low price of 

 Wd. will realize 29s. 2d. The cost of cutting this cord of 

 wood, which is generally performed by contract, will be 

 at the least 5s., and that of burning Is. ; thus leaving a 

 clear profit of 17s. 2d. per cord for the wood. 



Even roots are made into charcoal, and we have seen 

 whole woods grubbed up free of expense, the roots being 

 given in return for the labour ; but such work is usually 

 performed during the winter, when labour is at a discount. 

 Pinewood is not nearly so valuable for charcoal-making as 

 hardwood, but the former is not infrequently made to 





