66 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



Charcoal Burning. Charcoal can usually be sold to advantage, 

 and wood can sometimes be profitably disposed of in this way 

 when it can not be marketed for fuel. A considerable acreage of 

 unprofitable fruit trees has been disposed of in this way recently. 

 Charcoal is made from most kinds of wood, and sometimes stumps 

 and large roots are charred. A simple process of charcoal burning 

 is given by an experienced burner as follows : 



To burn a pit of charcoal, the prime necessity is to perform the process 

 of combustion with the least possible contact with air. Select a suitable 

 place not too far from the dwelling, because the operation must be 

 watched from time to time by night as well as by day. It is not necessary 

 to dig much of a ''pit" in the ground. Choose hard limbs of pine, spruce 

 or whatever wood is most available of that kind. Dry, dead limbs, if not 

 decayed, take for choice. Set them up wigwam fashion, close together, 

 fitting them as well as they will allow, the apex forming the chimney. Be 

 careful to keep that chimney free, because the fire should be there applied 

 to brisk "kindling" as far down as possible. Build round and round, tak- 

 ing the precaution to lay three or four straight pieces, three or four inches 

 in diameter, along the ground from the outside to the center. These may 

 have to be withdrawn to promote the draught. 



The wood all being in place it is now required to cover it thoroughly. 

 In the absence of turf or sods, it must be thatched with leafy green 

 boughs, or anything that will prevent the earth or dirt that is now heaped 

 on from running through. Pack this soil covering carefully, exclude air as 

 far as possible, except when the port-holes referred to near the ground 

 are needed. The direction of the wind will determine which ones are to 

 be opened. When the fire after a few hours, more or less, according to 

 the materials has got a good hold, close also the chimney. Visit the pit 

 regularly night and day; lessen or increase the draught as may seem 

 needed; and in a week or ten days the two or three cords of wood should 

 be turned into good hard coal. When uncovered, water or dirt should be 

 thrown upon coal that is too lively when spread out on the ground. 



Cutting to Kill Brush. Just when to cut to kill depends upon 

 the character of the growth and of the season. One conclusion 

 seems to be that with deciduous growths the best time to cut is 

 when they have just made their most vigorous growth, and this is 

 in the summer but the month to be chosen for the work will 

 depend upon the location, though August is generally selected as 

 the best time. 



In the case of evergreens, the cutting should be just before 

 the coldest weather, in which they are the nearest dormant. Ever- 

 greens, however, differ much in tenacity of life, for while most 

 kinds are easily killed, the California redwood will endure almost 

 any abuse with axe or fire and still spring up repeatedly and per- 

 sistently for years. 



The Use of Sheep on Sprouts. On sprouting brush, there is, 

 perhaps, no cheaper or more effective means of repression than 

 sheep and goats. They are used after the top growth is cleared 

 away instead of grubbing, if one can wait, for by their persistent 

 cutting down of growth, many small stumps and roots will decay 

 enough in a year or two to be plowed out with a strong team and 

 plow. 



