438 



WOOD-DEPOTS. 



is rarely hi<fliC'r than tiftceu to eighteen feet. In erecting a 

 stack, the base is lirst prepared as in tig. 2G1, in order to keep 

 the wood as much as possible from the ground, and prevent 

 its deterioration ; or merely two parallel lines of billets are laid 

 on the ground, on which the wood is stacked. In the damper 



parts of wood-depots. 



Fig. 261. especially in the case of 



large depots where there 



is not enough fall to allow 



the water to drain-oflf 



rapidly from the wood, 



and wherever the wood 



is stacked whilst still 



wet, this should be done 



as in fig. 262. 



Each stack must be finished off at both ends by crossing the 



billets to prevent it from falling. In very long stacks, it is 



advisable to place some rows of crossed billets in their centre, so 



as to give more stability to the structure. In the case of very 



high stacks, the crossed 



^'^•2^^- billets at their ends 



should be connected by 



transverse pieces, as in 



fig. 263. ]ietween any 



two stacks there should 



be left a space of at 



least two feet, to allow 



for ventilation. 



Wherever, on account 



of scarcity of space, it is necessary to reduce the distance 



between the stacks to two feet, and the stacks are also high, 



two adjoining stacks are joined, as shown in fig. 263, which 



greatly adds to their stability. Wherever carts must pass 



between the stacks to remove the wood, a sufficient passage must 



be allowed between adjacent stacks for their passage. Not un- 



frequently, however, owing to want of space, four to six stacks are 



crowded together without any intervening space, as, for instance, 



at Prague, where the arrangement shown in fig. 26-1 is followed. 



Where large quantities of firewood remain stored for a long 



