124 AGRICULTLHi: OX THE KHIXE. 



diminishing towards the outside until the mass assumes 

 the shape of a flat cone. 



An inner covering of moss and turf is laid over the heap, 

 and is again covered with clay sifted to free it from stones. 

 In this outer covering 12 to 14 holes are made after it 

 has been stamped till it hardens. The stake in the 

 centre is then drawn out and fire laid upon the top, the 

 gradual progress of which is anxiously watched by the 

 coal-burner, who opens or stops up the air-holes accord- 

 ing to the direction and strength of the wind, that the 

 whole may burn evenly and thoroughly. When all is 

 burnt out. the earthy covering is loosened at bottom, and 

 peels off the heap easily. The coals are spread out, and 

 tliosc not thoroughly burnt separated from the i-est, \\ hich 

 are carried as soon as they cool to the place where they 

 are to be used. 



From 2 J klafters, or 221 Prussian cubic feet of beech 

 v.ood, or from 10 one-horse loads of underwood, a 

 " wagen"' of charcoal of 2500 lbs. weight or 194^ cubic 

 feet of charcoal is obtained, the price of which is now 

 about 25 dollars, or 3/. 1 5s, The royal forests of Siegcn 

 furnish 3000 wagens yearly. The village and private 

 woods yield somethmg more than 2000 wjigens. On 

 130,000 morgens of forestdand, this shews 2^ morgens to 

 the wagen of charcoal annually, or a return of 13 dollars, 

 including labour. 



Although the good effects of the German village-system 

 in fostering a spirit of association, and of accustoming 

 men of small means to an independent management of 

 their shares in the common property, may be traced in 

 every German village, yet they are nowhere so con- 

 spicuous as in Siegen and some of the adjacent districts. 



