WOOD FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. 105 



Section XVII. — Wood for Agricultural Purposes. 



A considerable amount of wood is used in agricultural indus- 

 tries. These products have one character in common, being 

 used more or less in the rough, or at least without any elaborate 

 in-eparation. The following comprise the chief classes : — 



Pea- sticks, consisting of twigs 1-3 years old from various 

 broad-leaved species, especially beech and birch, and are the tops 

 and branches of poles and trees which are cut off after fellings, 

 in lengths from 2 to 4 feet. 



Bean- sticks are used for scarlet-runners and other climbing 

 beans ; they are poles 8-10 feet long, and up to about 1| inches 

 thick at the base. Coniferous saplings or straight coppice-shoots 

 of broad-leaved species are chiefly employed for this purpose. 



Stakes are intermediate in thickness between bean- sticks and 

 hop-poles, and are used for all kinds of purposes, chiefly to fill 

 gaps in hedges and fences. They are generally coniferous 

 saplings and smaller poles. Stakes are also used for tightening 

 the chains and ropes used in lading timber and firewood on to 

 carts. Saplings and small poles of different lengths of oak, ash, 

 birch, beech, &c., are thus used. 



Hop-poles, for use in hop-gardens ; light, straight and slender 

 coniferous poles are chiefly employed. [Sweet chestnut coppice 

 also yields excellent hop-poles, and has been largely and profit- 

 ably grown in Kent and elsewhere for the purpose. — Tr.] 



Hop-poles are usually placed in 4-6 classes, according to their 

 dimensions, being from lG-40 feet long, and from 2h-5 inches 

 thick at the base. They are generally barked in order to render 

 them more durable. The introduction of steel-wire between 

 wooden supports has replaced hop-poles in many localities, and 

 reduced considerably the demand for the latter. 



Tree-stakes, which serve as stakes for freshly planted orchard- 

 trees, and in Germany usually consist of coniferous poles cut 

 into lengths of 10-20 feet. Old (red) aspen-wood, robinia and 

 other broad-leaved trees (ash, &c.) are also employed for this 

 purpose. 



[Hurdle- and crate-wood. — Much split ash, oak and other 

 coppice-wood is used in Britaiu for hurdles, and for crates used in 

 packing machinery, crockery, &c. — Tr.] 



