246 TIMBERS AND THEIR USES 



same manner, and this process is continued 

 until a circle five feet in diameter is obtained. 

 A circle one foot in diameter, and having the 

 top of the stake first driven into the ground as 

 centre, is next made by placing the wood 

 horizontally on the upright pieces, and side by 

 side, the end of each piece being placed at the 

 circumference of the circle already made and 

 directed towards the 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 two feet 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 con- 

 tinued until the pits are of the required size. 

 When the building is completed the pits are 

 covered with newly cut turf, the grassy side 

 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 air. The turfs are cut about one 

 foot in width and of any convenient length. 



