4 74 Of Woods. 



the wood is, the later in the spring it should be cut. When 

 old wood is cut early in the winter, and a severe season fol- 

 lows, the damage done to the old stock, and to the stan- 

 dards, is very great. On the other hand, it is supposed to 

 be for the interest of the buyer, that all wood should be cut 

 in the most stagnant state of sap, as being, in that case, 

 more durable ; and in all cases where bending is required, 

 such as hurdles, hoops, and even dead hedges, the wood 

 cannot be cut too early in the winter, for if cut when the 

 sap is rising, it becomes brittle, and unfit for those pur- 

 poses ( 5 * 9 ). With regard to seasoning timber, there is a 

 difference of opinion, at what period timber should be fell- 

 ed. But as the value of bark is considerable, the spring, on 

 the whole, is the most profitable to the owner. 



6. Application and Uses ( 53 ). It is well known, that in an 

 oak coppice, the principal profit is derived from the bark, 

 and that sometimes, at 16 years' growth, when the wood 

 fetches only L.6 for charcoal, the bark will produce L.15( 531 ). 

 The wood of coppices, may likewise be converted to various 

 minute purposes. Charcoal was formerly a great means of 

 consumption ( 53a ), but since charred pit-coal has been em- 

 ployed in the manufacture of iron, that is no longer so 

 great an object, and the charcoal of wood has consider- 

 ably gone into disuse. In some districts, as in Sussex, the 

 brushwood is employed with great advantage, in the burn- 

 ing of lime. Fortunately also, a new mode of using the 

 small wood of oak, &c. has been discovered, namely, that 

 of extracting from it, a liquid pyrolignous acid, in consider- 

 able quantities, for the use of the manufacturers of dyeing 

 and printing colours, and for various other purposes. The 

 extreme twigs and buds of the oak, may likewise be used in 

 tanning ( 533 ). 



2. Mixed Woods. 



The management of woods, where there are both large 

 trees and underwood, though not without its difficulties, 

 does not require the same degree of skill, or unceasing la- 

 bour and attention, as the cultivation of arable land, or the 

 management of live stock. It is principally necessary, that 

 the woods should be properly fenced; that they should 

 not be damaged by the inroads of cattle or other stock ; 

 that drainage, and other practical modes of improvement, 

 should not be neglected ; that the wood should be divided 

 into regular falls, or portions, so as to furnish an annual in- 



