BABKING OAK. 



while stout rods are placed transversely upon these. It should 

 also be arranged, not only to throw the rain off, hut so that 

 the ends of the hark may be facing the prevailing wind, 

 thereby insuring a current of air through and beneath the 

 mass. After being carted or carried to the drying-ground 

 the small bark is spread out loosely on the stage to a depth 

 of about 6 in., and thatched or covered over with the larger 

 pieces as a means of protection against rain. Each day's 

 bark should be cleared up, aud put on the range the same 

 evening, and oftensr, if found necessary, during damp, 

 showery weather, keeping the white, or fleshy part down- 

 wards and using the larger pieces as covers to run off the 

 rain. 



During favourable weather the bark will be ready foi- 

 st acking in about a fortnight from the time it was placed on 

 the stage, but should close, damp weather intervene, it may 

 be found necessary to turn the bark occasionally, thus adding 

 to the length of time required in har vesting. It should, 

 however, be remembered that the less turning the bark- 

 receives after being placed on the stage the better will the 

 Duality be. Well-seasoned bark has the fleshy side of a 

 creamy colour, whereas such as has been exposed to the sun 

 or rain is of a dull brown, wanting in tannin matter, and, 

 consequently, deficient in value. 



As soon as the bark is thoroughly dry and ready for 

 stacking, whicn may readily be told by its breaking freely 

 across rather than bending or yielding to pressure, it 

 should be secured in a shed, ricked, or delivered to the 

 tanner. 



In stacking bark the rick should not be made too wide 

 .say about 9 ft. but well hearted, so that the side pieces may 

 have a good fall or declivity outwards to throw off the rain. 

 The rick may be of any length, according to the quantity of 

 bark on hand, and of a height proportionate to the width. 

 The largest pieces of bark should be reserved for thatching the 

 rick, this being covered over by a tarpaulin or waterproof 

 cloth of some kind. In some cases the bark is chipped pre- 

 vious to being sold, but, as this necessitates having a large 

 shed at command, the system is not generally adopted. 



