The Manufacture of Charcoal 22 7 



other requisites that must be provided as the work proceeds. 

 A couple of large tarpaulins and half a dozen straw-covered 

 hurdles are other necessities. 



From the point of economy in carting the wood to the 

 kilns it may seem that shifting the position of burning from 

 one part of the woodland to another is to be recommended. 

 Such is, however, not the case, as the hard, dry, ash-covered 

 site, where charring has already been carried out, has its 

 advantages, and the cost of transferring the workmen's hut 

 and tools from one position to another must also be con- 

 sidered. 



Several methods, largely dependent on the quantity and 

 quality of charcoal to be obtained, are adopted, but in 

 order to procure that of the best description the following 

 system, which has been successfully carried out on a large 

 estate for the past hundred years at least, is recommended. 

 The timber carted to the charcoal yard consists of all kinds 

 of hardwoods, preferably not under two inches in diameter. 



Firewood and rough, unsaleable timber, as also inferior 

 grades of heavy coppice wood, are mainly utilized for the 

 production of charcoal. The wood is sawn into pieces 

 about 2 ft. long, this being the most convenient size for 

 building the kiln, and these again split if required to some 

 4 in. to the side, and when a sufficient quantity for two 

 pits has been cut up, the building of these is proceeded with. 

 It has been found economical to burn two pits at the same 

 time, as both can be attended to as conveniently as one, 

 and it is unnecessary for the men to sit up at night to watch 

 each separately. The charcoal pits, one of which is shown 

 in the accompanying sketch, are made of a broadly conical 

 shape, 21 ft. in diameter and about 9 ft. high, and the mode 

 of construction is as follows : 



A strong stake is driven firmly into the ground and left 

 protruding about a foot. Around this are placed small 

 pieces of dry ash of equal length, and standing as close to 

 the upright stake as possible ; around this another layer is 

 placed in the same manner, and this is continued until a 

 circle 5 ft. in diameter is obtained. A circle 1 ft. in diameter, 

 and having the top of the stake previously driven into the 



