7<;o 



WOOD-CARBONISATIOX. 



procedure is adopted as for a new site, and old refuse charcoal- 

 dust is thoroughly mixed with the soil. 



Although as far as possible suitable sites are chosen for kilns, 

 yet in mountainous forests it is often necessary to make one on 

 a slope, in a narrow gorge or other unfavourable place. An 

 excavation is then made in the hill-side, and an embankment 

 formed downhill so as to secure a horizontal site. It is then 

 better to support the lower side of the site by wattle-work, or 

 logs may be piled on one another and covered with earth 

 to form the lower side of the site. Kilns made on sites 

 like these always have a draught in one particular direction, 

 which the burners must try to counteract by various devices 

 whilst the kiln is burning. There must be round the kiln a 

 cleared space sufficiently large for the burners to work in and 

 aflurding room for the charcoal-burners to stack the wood, for a 

 hut and so on. 



iv. Krecti(»i of tJtc Kiln. 



At the centre of the kiln is a flue, which is constructed of 

 three or four stakes driven into the ground about one foot 



¥u: 310. 



^■•'=^':_ 



HpHii. I iicy ;iri' i)()nii(l round with withes, torniing a iioilow 

 shaft, which is tilled with very dry, combustible firewood. The 

 way ill which the latter is inserted depends on whether the kiln 

 is to be kindled from above or below. In the latter case a 

 dry board is placed under the flue to keep back the soil- 

 moisture ; highly combustible fuel, such as pieces of resinous 

 wood, shavings, birch-bark. Sec. arc then placed upon the board, 



