Workers in Woodcraft. 277 



eye as to change of wind and the coming of 

 rain. The burning is conducted as follows : 

 The faggots (from one to four feet in length and 

 about one and a half inches thick) are built up 

 round a vertical stake, which forms the centre 

 of the mass, until the heap has attained consider- 

 able dimensions. It is round, and represents a 

 low stack terminating in an apex at the top. 

 When sufficient faggots have been piled up, the 

 whole is covered with turf and wet sand, so 

 as to exclude the air. The heap, now about 

 thirty feet in diameter, is flattened by beating 

 with spades, and made to present a smooth 

 dome-like surface. The vertical stake is with- 

 drawn from the centre, and lights are dropped 

 down the passage left, to ignite the wood. 

 The air has been carefully excluded so as to 

 regulate the burning of the heap. From the 

 centre the fire gradually spreads outwards until 

 it reaches the edges. The burners always have 

 in readiness large screens to regulate the supply 

 of air, and these are planted on that side of the 

 heap from which the wind blows. The screens 

 consist of wooden hurdles intertwined with 

 dead grass, dried fern, and bracken. Of course 

 success depends upon the slow and equal burn- 

 ing of the whole mass. A shifting wind some- 

 times ill regulates the supply of air and fires 

 the heap. When this occurs nothing can stop 

 it, and the charcoal is completely spoiled. This, 



