CHAPTER XXI 



BARKING OAK. 



THE period of bark stripping and harvesting is one of the 

 most anxious seasons of the year with the forester, as the 

 quality of the bark is so largely dependent upon the weather 

 during the time that intervenes between the stripping and 

 stacking, or delivery, as well as upon the carrying-out of the 

 work at the proper time, to secure easy and expeditious 

 peeling. In most cases the time when the bud is just ex- 

 panding into leaf is that which gives the greatest weight of 

 bark of the best quality, and with the smallest amount of 

 labour. By deferring the work, even for a few days, there 

 is often a loss in weight amounting to as much as 10 per 

 cent., and a great deterioration in quality. 



Even in the most favoured situations it is seldom that 

 the season for stripping extends beyond twenty-eight days. 

 The advantages of early stripping are so well known that 

 any comment on the subject is unnecessary ; suffice it to 

 say that, immediately the bark commences to "run" freely, 

 no time should be lost in making a start, and the work 

 should be prosecuted with vigour and dispatch until com- 

 pleted. 



The proper time to commence barking cannot, however, 

 be fixed with any amount of certainty, much depending on 

 the season, whether early or late, as well as district of the 

 country in which the operation is to be performed. During 

 ordinary seasons, and in most parts of England, bark- stripping 

 commences during the third week in April, and continues 

 for about a month, or until such time as the trees are in full 



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