278 Poachers and Poaching. 



however, [from the great watchfulness of the 

 men, is generally avoided. To return to the 

 heap. The products of combustion escape by 

 the channel occasioned by the withdrawal of 

 the vertical stake. The process is continued 

 from twenty to thirty hours, when smoke and 

 fumes seem to come off every part alike. This 

 is a sign to put out the fire, which is done by 

 applying water. The faggots have now been 

 converted into charcoal. The critical part of 

 the operation, and the one that wants most 

 experience, is to catch the heap when it is 

 " enough " that is when it is neither overdone 

 nor underdone. After allowing half a day for 

 cooling, the charcoal is taken out, put into sacks, 

 and carted away. Three or four men generally 

 work together and have four heaps in hand 

 at one time. At night, especially when there 

 is much wind, the burners work by shifts. 

 The charcoal when carted away is just half the 

 weight of the wood from which it has been pre- 

 pared. Much of the charcoal prepared here- 

 abouts is used in smelting at the Backbarrow 

 and other neighbouring ironworks. Iron so 

 smelted is of much higher commercial value 

 than that obtained by the ordinary processes. 

 Charcoal burning, consequently, is likely to con- 

 tinue a lucrative employment for many years 

 to come, especially as coppice woods the raw 

 material thrive so abundantly in the district. 



