88 



NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 



and timing the disappearance first 

 of flame, and then of red glow. 



3. The burning quality of the 

 same kind of wood in different con- 

 ditions, green ■ and dead, sapwood 

 and heartwood; dead wood wet and 

 dry, sound and punk; pieces from 

 knot and from straight-grained por- 

 tions, etc., may be tested as in 



Fig. 47. Rubbing sticks for , 



fire-making: a, drill-socket, paragraph I. 

 to which pressure is applied . ,11 r 



with the left hand (a pine 4. Ancient methods of starting a 



knot with a shallow hole in « , .. , -i • , -i • , 



it will do for this); b, the fire may be demonstrated m the mter- 



drill, an octagonal hardwood .. . ... . , . r ,t • i 



stick about fifteen inches vals while waiting for the pieces used 



long; the top should work 1.1 , ttt-.i , 1 



smoothly in the drill socket; 111,2, and 3 to bum OUt. With the 

 C inelastic bow for rotating .. • j- 



drill, it is moved horizon^ apparatus shown in figure 47 any- 



ally back and forth with the , ~ , - . , . - 



right hand; its cord, d, is a one can start a fire by friction of one 



leather thong with enough . r - ,- - 



slack to tightly encircle the piece of wood upon another and care- 

 driii once; e, fire board of ,. ., . ,, ~ -,. - 



dry balsam fir, or of cotton- fully nursing the first resulting spark. 



wood root, or even of bass- .-,., . , 1 , i 1 , • 1 1 



wood, observe how the Flint and steel and tinder may also 



notches are cut with sides - , . .. 



be tried. 



flaring downward ; a little pit 



to receive the point of the 



fire drill is at the apex of 



each one; J is a used-out 



notch; 2 is yet in use; 3 is a 



new unused notch. The 



rotating of the drill with 



pressure from above rubs off 



a brownish wood powder 



which falls beneath the 



notch and smokes, and then, 



with gentle fanning, ignites; 



A dry piece of punk should 



be placed beneath the notch 



to catch it, and some fine 



tinder (such as may be 



readily made by scraping 



fine, dry cedar wood) should 1 , . , , , 



be added to catch the first hickory Will exude 



quantity of delicious ' 'hickory honey. ' ' 

 (b) By burning pieces of chestnut, sumach, etc. , the crack- 

 ling of woods may be demonstrated; also the ember-throw- 

 ing habit of hemlock. A shower of sparks may be had by 

 throwing on green and leafy boughs of hemlock and balsam. 



5. Some interesting peculiarities 

 of certain woods may be shown at a 

 common fire: 



(a) By having green chunks 

 burning at one end, the liquids in 

 the wood may be made visible. 

 Green elm will exude water at the 

 other end; red maple will froth; 

 a very limited 



