228 Practical Forestry 



ground as centre, is next made by placing the wood hori- 

 zontally on the upright pieces and side by side, the ends 

 of each piece being placed at the circumference of the circle 

 already made, and directed towards its centre. Layer upon 

 layer is built in this manner until the pit is of the required 

 height, the wood used here being dry pieces of ash 2 ft. in 

 length, but split rather smaller than the ordinary pieces. 

 A sort of chimney is thus formed, by means of which the pit 

 is fired. Outside the core the wood is placed on end and 

 reclining inwards, this being continued until the pits are of 

 the required size. When the building is completed the pits 

 are covered with newly cut turf, the grassy side placed 

 innermost, beginning at the base and working towards the 

 top, each line of turf overlapping the previous one by a few 

 inches. The circular hole or chimney is left open for firing. 

 Before turfing the top half of each pit it is carefully examined, 

 and any crevices between the wood packed full of small 

 pieces of turf and sawdust to exclude the air. The turfs are 

 cut about 1 ft. in width, and of any convenient length. The 

 quantity required for two pits of the dimensions stated is 

 seven loads. 



When the pit is satisfactorily covered it is fired by drop- 

 ping a couple of shovelfuls of burning wood and some dry 

 pieces of pine or ash into the opening left at the top ; the top 

 turf is then put on, which effectually shuts up the chimney, 

 and the process of charring commences. The smoke is first 

 seen issuing from the lower half of each pit, where the chinks 

 were not packed with sawdust, and ultimately it escapes 

 from the whole surface. 



Constant attention is required day and night during the 

 period of burning, especially should the weather be stormy, 

 as the wind, by striking on a particular part of the pit, 

 causes that side to burn more rapidly, and fall in. When 

 this occurs the hole must at once be filled in with rough 

 logs, which had been set aside for the purpose when splitting 

 the wood, and re-covered with turf. 



When the weather is mild the pits burn uniformly, require 

 but little attention, and produce the finest charcoal. The 

 time required for burning will vary with the size of the pit, 



