CHAPTER X 

 CHARCOAL 



GENERAL 



Charcoal is charred wood as the result of partial or incomplete 

 combustion. Its manufacture in the past consisted usually in carbonizing 

 wood in open-air pits. The wood is usually placed in large piles of 

 v^arious forms and charred, or it may be the residue from the distillation 

 of wood in closed retorts. For many centuries charcoal has been used 

 as the principal domestic fuel, particularly in countries like Italy, Spain 

 and France, where there is a shortage of coal. During the middle and 

 latter parts of the past century its production was greatly stimulated for 

 use in the reduction of iron ores. 



The production of charcoal by the old open-air pit method reached 

 its height of importance long ago in this country. It has been for many 

 centuries and is still of great importance in Europe where, in many 

 countries, charcoal serves the purpose as the principal domestic fuel, 

 both for heating and for cook'ng . It is also extensively used in various 

 arts and industries. 



The manufacture of charcoal is practiced principally in regions of 

 abundant forest resources. Owing to the fact that charcoal can be trans- 

 ported with ease on account of its hghtness in weight — wood, a heavy 

 form of fuel, can be^made readily available for the market by conversion 

 to approximately one-half its original volume and one-quarter its original 

 air-dry weight. 



The manufacture of charcoal by the open-pit method is a very 

 wasteful operation, because the volatile products which pass off in the 

 process of conversion are not recovered. Principally because of this fact 

 combined with the demand for the volatile products of wood such as 

 wood alcohol, acetate of lime, etc., the distillation of wood in ovens and 

 in closed retorts has made great progress and has discouraged the making 

 of charcoal by the open-pit process. 



The old-fashioned method of manufacture is still very important in 

 the rather remote districts in the heavily forested sections of Sweden, 



23.5 ' 



