PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



(3'. Bark. In the past the annual home supply of bark 

 was estimated at about 300,000 tons, but, in addition to this, 

 some 30,1)00 tons were imported from the Continent ; but of 

 late years, with chemical substitutes, the amount is much 

 less. For tanning purposes, oak and, occasionally, larch bark 

 are those principally in use in this country, though both 

 willow and alder are largely used for the same purpose in 

 various countries, principally Russia. Although not at 

 present a valuable product, still, that a small margin 

 of profit, even at the present low price, will accrue 

 through careful and judicious management, is a fact 

 of which we are fully convinced. It is, perhaps, not so 

 well known as it ought to be that of our two varieties 

 of oak, Quercus Robur pedunculata and Q. K. sessiliflora 

 the former contains 15 and the latter only 13 per cent, of 

 tannin. The branches, too, down to an inch in diameter, 

 contain a relatively higher proportion of tannin than the bark 

 of the stem. 



The stripping and harvesting of oak bark having received a 

 separate paper, nothing further need be said of these here. 



(4.) Fagots. These are made of the smaller branches or 

 spray, the remains of charcoal- wood, etc., and tied into 

 bundles similar in size to a sheaf of wheat. They are either 

 left lying on the ground or standing upright in threes or fours 

 together for a few days after being made, and previous to 

 being stacked, which they always are for about six months 

 before being used. In thinning a woodland the fagots are 

 usually bound up by contract at 4s. 6d. per hundred, unless 

 when the wood is exceptionally rough and crooked, when 

 another shilling is added. When stacked and dry they 

 realise about 16s. per hundred in the wood, thus giving a 

 clear profit of lls. 6d., when we deduct 4s. 6d., for binding, 

 per hundred. 



In England the demand for these fagots is considerable, 

 they being used either for kiln purposes, or, when chopped 

 up into smaller bundles, for fire-lighting. These latter 

 are about 9 in. long, and half that in diameter, and are bound 

 tightly round the centre by tarred rope. They sell readily at 

 2s. 6d. per hundred. 



This is a good and profitable way of getting rid of all 



superfluous spray and branches. Brush or kiln fagots, 



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