CHAPTEE XX HI 



UTILISING WASTE FOBEST-PBODUCE. 



THAT the production of timber, in common with trades in 

 general, has of late years been rendered far less remunerative 

 than was formerly the case, owing principally to keen 

 foreign competition, is a fact that is now well known, even 

 to the most casual observer. In face of this it behoves us 

 to ask ourselves the question : Do we utilise to the fullest 

 extent the by-products of the forest and woodland, and so 

 diminish waste, and, at the same time, add to the general 

 revenue of the forest department? By waste produce, or 

 by-products, is meant anything other than wood not in the 

 condition in which it is generally used, and includes bark, 

 charcoal, firewood, house and kiln fagots, tar, wood-spirit, 

 turpentine, sawdust, wood-ashes, leaf-soil, etc. That much 

 may be done, both in the economy of production and utilisa- 

 tion of waste produce, is well known to those in charge of 

 woods and forests in every part of the country ; and where 

 the by-products cannot well be utilised in any of the above- 

 named ways, it would be better, perhaps, to reduce them 

 to ashes ; for, by so doing, insect and fungus life are lessened, 

 and a valuable manure is obtained, particularly rich in 

 potash, whether for grass land or certain farm and garden 

 crops. 



The forest by-products of Great Britain and Ireland are> 

 in the main, applied in the four following ways: 



(1.) Firewood. 



(2.) Charcoal, for heating purposes, etc. 



(3.) Bark for tanning. 



(4.) Fagots, for house and kiln purposes. 



161 * 



