152 FOKESTRY WOEK 



feet stacked 3 feet broad by 3 feet high by 14 feet long, 

 or 8 feet long by 4 feet by 4 feet. 



The small branches, or " brush," should be made into 

 faggots or kids where there is a ready sale for them. 

 These also vary in different parts of the country, usually 

 being about 5 feet long and 3 to 4 feet in girth. 



In making a faggot, a " withe " made of hazel or 

 willow, a cord or wire with a loop at one end is laid on the 

 ground, and the branch wood, cut to the proper length, 

 is laid across it as straight as possible, until the faggot 

 is large enough, when the loose end is passed through the 

 loop and pulled tight, the branches being compressed by 

 application of the foot, and the withe or cord secured. 



They should be stacked or placed in a faggot shed until 

 dry and fit to use for kilns or kindling wood. 



The Time for Felling. 



Timber that is felled when the sap is down is always 

 considered to be of better quality than that felled in 

 summer, when the sap is up. 



Summer-felled timber, especially of coniferous trees, 

 is more subject to attack by fungi. Therefore, as a rule, 

 large timber should be felled in late autumn or the 

 winter months. 



The principal exception to this rule is when the trees 

 are to be barked. Beech, when it is to be steamed for 

 certain purposes, may be summer-felled. 



As it is often difficult, owing to pressure of other work, 

 to get all thinning done during the winter, some of this 

 work may be left till the spring or summer. 



