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FELLING AND CONVERSION. 



as possible. The base of tbe stack is made by laying several 

 pieces lengthwise on the ground on which the rest of the 

 wood is piled transversely ; this precaution should always be 

 adopted where the wood has to remain for a long time on wet 

 ground, otherwise the lowest billets may be forced into the 

 ground and rot. On dry, firm soil, this arrangement may be dis- 

 pensed with ; the largest billets are then placed transversely, 

 with their curved sides downwards, directly on the ground 

 (fig. 154), and the stack is completed with wood of the same 

 quality, the larger pieces being always piled first to ensure 



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stability : at tuc >nuic time, the men should pile the wood in such 

 a way as to keep the topf of the stack continually horizontal. 



In order to pile the stacks closely, and also to protect the 

 wood as much as possible from rain, it is better to place the 

 curved sides of the billets above and their points downwards 

 (figs. 154 and 155), except in the lowest row. The front surface 

 of the stack should also be quite level and vertical, and as the 

 billets are of diiferent thickness at the two ends, they should 

 be alternately placed with their thick and thin ends at either 

 face of the stack. The first cord binding the stakes should be 

 placed at a height of li feet (half a meter), and the second at 

 3 to 4 feet (1 to 1 j meters). 



Stacking stump-wood is most (litlicult, as the shape of the 

 pieces is so variable. Split pieces of small stumps are placed in 

 the ordinary direction, but the larger pieces have to be arranged 

 according to the skill of the operator, so as to fit in with the 



