Workers in Woodcraft. 275 



his primitive life, and is more a man than the 

 dweller in towns. 



During the summer we have tramped through 

 the coppice woods. These will be felled 

 when autumn comes round, having grown their 

 fifteen years. And to one unaccustomed to 

 such rapid growth the progress made would be 

 somewhat astonishing. The trees are spindle 

 high. The ash-poles are straight and smooth, 

 the young oaks radiant in rich chestnut, the 

 hazels catkin-covered, and the frail birch the 

 lady of the woods towers her silvery stem afar 

 up. Of course, when cut, each species of tree 

 has some special virtue some quality in which 

 it most excels. The young oaks, for in- 

 stance, are felled at the time of ascending sap 

 in early summer, as then the bark is easily 

 " peeled." This is extensively used in the 

 process of tanning. The torn staves are used 

 in making baskets and hoops. The " afflictive 

 birch, cursed by unlettered idle youth," has 

 other uses than that which the quotation 

 would seem likely to imply. The variously 

 sized boughs are used in making crates, and the 

 wood is also extensively used by the cottagers 

 as fire " eldin," which may be detected when 

 in proximity to the cottages. The use, however,, 

 to which the majority of the wood is put is 

 bobbin-turning quite an extensive and important 

 industry in the northern valleys. 



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