The Flow of Sap in Trees. 215 



been cut down, and slung across the track ready for 

 barking." 



Reading Miss Braddon's books, one is disposed to 

 believe her almost omniscient ; but if this be a specimen 

 of her knowledge, I fear it is not always reliable. Bark- 

 stripping in October would not only be an anachronism, 

 but a difficult operation; and, had Miss Braddon the 

 "strippers" to pay, she would find it a costly one. But 

 to the romantic writer, I suppose, there is nothing im- 

 possible. Dropping criticism, which is meant in no 

 hostile spirit, I come to speak of bark-stripping, a busi- 

 ness now, in mid-April, about to commence. Nor do I 

 here intend giving account of the operation itself ; only 

 in its relation to one of the phenomena of nature. As 

 all know, at this time of the year the sap in trees is 

 fluent, or, as commonly expressed, " running " ; which 

 gives the bark-stripper his opportunity; otherwise the 

 task of removing the rind would be well-nigh impossible. 

 But perhaps few are aware of the fact that there are 

 three runnings of the sap, or three " saps, as the strippers 

 term them ; their respective times of flow being quite 

 distinct from one another. The earliest, or " spring sap," 

 as called, is longest of continuance, lasting for a month 

 or more, and is the one made most of by the strippers. 

 A second flow succeeds later on, after an interval of stag- 

 nation ; which is the poorest and deemed of least account 

 for their purpose. Still later, about the last week in 

 June, comes the " midsummer sap," of somewhat longer 

 duration; when again the oak can be conveniently divested 

 of its rough coat, and the stripper returns to his task for 

 a short and final spell. But in favourable years his work 

 is nearly, if not altogether, continuous, the three "saps" 

 succeeding one another by intervals of only a few days. 



