If the consumer can buy coal at $8 a ton, it would hardly be 

 worth his while to burn first-class wood at - rd. except in an 



open fireplace, because coal is a more convenient fuel. If, however, 

 coal becomes so scarce that it can not be secured in sufficient quan- 

 tities, the consumer will, in some cases, have to burn wood at $10 

 or even $15 a cord. In many sections wood is selling at the latter 

 prices at the time of writing (September 17). 



METHODS OF MAKING CORDWOOD. 



The most common method of making cordwood is to cut the trees 

 into 4-foot lengths with the ax and split the larger pieces. The 

 pieces are then piled in a standard cord, which is 8 feet long, 4 feet 

 high, and 4 feet wide. The contents are 128 cubic feet, of which 

 about 70 per cent is wood and 30 per cent air. Wood cut 4 feet 

 long can be sold to brickyards, limekilns, metal-working plants, and 

 other industries, but is too large for household use. This method is 

 used chiefly where the tree growth is comparatively small, as in 

 second growth, because such wood splits easily. 



Another method, and one better adapted for old growth hard- 

 woods, which are difficult to split, is to saw the tree into logs of con- 

 venient lengths, say from 10 to 15 feet. These are 'snaked'" out to 

 the edge of the woodland and there sawed and split into lengths 

 proper for the stove or furnace. The sawing is usually done by 

 chine, driven either by gasoline or by electricity. The wood is 

 piled 4 feet high and S feet long, such a pile being called a " stove- 

 wood" or " running" cord or "ran" "When the wood is sawed into 

 16-inch lengths, as is customary with stove material, three run- 

 theoretically equivalent to one cord. Actually they contain some- 

 what more wood, since small pieces can be packed more closely than 

 larger ones. 



WOOD A PROFITABLE FARM CROP. 



Firewood ought to bring a better profit this year than ever before, 

 on account of the higher prices which are likely to prevail. Wood 

 is a much less perishable crop than many which the farmer ra 

 When properly piled, the better kinds of wood will last from two to 

 three years, though it steadily deteriorates after the first year. To 

 have the best heating value, as well as to reduce the cost of hauling. 

 wood should be thoroughly seasoned, which means air-drying it from 

 six to eight months. When piled so as to get a good circulation oi 

 air, however, 50 per cent of the moisture may be removed in three 



