208 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
March IS, 1894. 
able to the fullest development of these plants. Mr. Veitch said that in 
dealing with the flora he should make special note of those plants which 
were unknown or at any rate rare in this country, and should only 
briefly mention those which were well known and largely cultivated. 
The Magnolias, of which there were eight or nine species, comprised 
one of the finest families of plants found in Japan, The leaves were 
very large, and the flowers frequently measured 6 or 7 inches in 
diameter, the trees sometimes growing to a height of from 80 to 100 feet. 
Careful reference was made to the timber trees, such as Limes, Maples, 
Oaks, Hornbeams and Elms, the latter being esteemed as one of the 
most valuable timber trees of the ceuntry. The essayist mentioned the 
various kinds which were to be found in the country, and illustrated his 
words with admirably dried specimens of the leaves of the trees he 
named. Examples of Eoses were numerous, and the specimens 
of Hydrangeas met with were a magnificent sight. In addition to those 
above referred to many others were mentioned by the essayist in this 
exhaustive and interesting paper. 
A vote of thanks to Mr. Veitch and Sir A. Arbuthnot closed a most 
successful meeting. 
PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 
Me. Webster has done a good service by the publication of his excellent 
manual “ Practical Forestry,” a work which is a fitting companion to the 
“Hardy Ornamental Treesand Shrubs” which we noticed a few weeks ago. 
Such manuals as these tend more to disseminate correct information on 
the subjects of which they treat than the more bulky and elaborate 
volumes to which we have of late years been accustomed. Mr. Webster 
has condensed into a compact form the essence of all that need be said 
on the subject of which he treats. He begins by treating of the Home 
Nursery ; Collecting and Harvesting Tree Seeds ; Propagating ; 
Formation of Plantations ; Trees Best Adapted for Various Soils ; and 
in short enters fully into the whole system of forestry. Here is the 
chapter on “ The Manufacture of Charcoal.” 
“ In the preparation of charcoal two different methods are usually 
employed—one, that of piling the wood in a heap, covering with turf, 
and setting on fire ; the other, by placing the wood in an iron cylinder 
set in brickwork, and surrounded with fire. The first method is that 
generally adopted, and will be described first:— 
“ A piece of ground, sheltered from the prevailing winds, and in a 
position to which easy access with wood can be obtained, is set apart 
for the charcoal making. The wood is carted in at any time when 
obtainable and convenient to spare horse labour from other parts of the 
forest work, and consists of all kinds of hardwoods (Poplar and Willow 
are usually excepted), in size, if possible, not under 2 inches in diameter. 
Principally firewood and rather rough and unsaleable timber are used 
for this purpose. Among our timber trees Oak, Ash,and Beech generally 
are preferred, they producing the largest quantity of charcoal, and of 
superior quality to most others, though that produced from some shrubs, 
especially Rhamnus frangula, is much in request for gunpowder making. 
The wood is sawn into pieces 2 feet long, and these again split, if 
required, to about 4 inches square, and, when a sufficient quantity has 
been cut up for two pits, the building of these is then proceeded with. 
“ Here it may be necessary to state that it is much better to burn two 
pits at the same time, as both can be attended to during the charring 
process as conveniently as one, and do not necessitate the men sitting 
up at night for each separately. The pits are usually made of conical 
shape, 21 feet in diameter, and about 9 feet in height, the mode of con¬ 
struction being as follows : A strong stake is driven firmly into the 
ground, and left protruding about 12 inches ; around this are placed 
small pieces of dry ash of a similar size, and standing as close to tbe 
upright stake as possible, around this being placed another layer in 
the same manner, and so on, until a circle 4 feet in diameter is 
obtained. 
“ A circle 1 foot in diameter, and having the top of the stake formerly 
driven into the ground as a centre, is next made by placing the wood 
horizontally on the upright pieces, and side by side, repeating the same 
by laying others on these in a similar manner, until the pit is of the 
required height, the wood used here being dry pieces of Ash, 24 inches 
long, but split rather smaller than the ordinary pieces. This forms 
a sort of chimney by means of which the pita are fired. Outside the 
wood is placed on end and reclining inwards, this being continued until 
the pits are of the required size. 
“ When completed the pits are covered with newly cut turf, the 
grassy side being placed innermost, beginning at the base and working 
towards the top, each line of turf overlapping by a few inches the 
previous one, the circular hole or chimney being left open for firing. 
The turfs are cut about 1 foot in width, and any length convenient, the 
quantity required for two pits being about seven cartloads. Before 
turfing the top half of each pit they are carefully examined, and any 
crevices between the pieces of wood packed full of small bits of turf and 
sawdust to exclude the air; They are next fired by dropping a couple 
of shovelfuls of burning wood and some pieces of dry Pine or Ash into 
the opening left at the top ; the top turf is then put on, which efiEectually 
shuts up the chimney, after which the process of charring commences. 
The smoke is first seen issuing from the lower half of each pit, where 
sawdust has not been used, and, ultimately, all over. Constant attention 
is required day and night during the period of burning, and especially 
so should the weather be stormy, as the wind, striking constantly on a 
particular part of the pit, causes that side to burn very rapidly and fall 
into a hole. Should this occur the hole must at once be filled up with 
rough logs, which had been set aside for the purpose when splitting the 
wood, and re-covered with turf. When the weather is mild the pits 
burn uniformly all over, require but little attention, and produce the 
finest charcoal. 
“ The time required in burning varies from seven to nine days, 
according to the state of the weather, dry and mild requiring the longest 
period. As the charring proceeds the turfs gradually disappear, until 
only a slight covering of burnt earth remaiLS, after which, and having 
become eool, the pits are ready for being opened, when it is found they 
are reduced to about half their original size. 
“ The charcoal is extracted by means of a rake resembling a light 
drag, but having much finer teeth, and after becoming quite cold, is 
stored away until required for use. 
‘ A'iln Burning .—The kiln is made of brick, one course beingsufiBcient 
if bands of iron be added to strengthen the br ckw( rk. It is usually 
conical in shape, 24 feet in diameter, with an equal height, and holds 
about forty cords of wood. The wall of the kiln is carried up nearly 
straight for about 6 feet, when it is gradually drawn in and made of a 
blunt cone shape. A plate of iron is fastened on the top in the manner 
of a keystone to an arch. Thrce-inch iron hoop bands, about an eighth 
of an inch thick, are placed around the kiln and drawn together by 
means of screw-bolts and nuts. At the base, and near the top, are 
double sheet-iron doors, by which it is filled with wood or emptied of 
charcoal. The time required to fill, burn, and empty is about three 
weeks. Pit-burning for estate purposes is, however, most commonly 
pursued, and has this advantage—that the charcoal can be made at 
any place where timber is being felled, without extra expense, save 
that of the cartage of the charcoal, whereas in using the kiln or retort 
the wood must, in most cases, be conveyed to the place where it is 
erected.” 
This excellent and useful handbook on Practical Forestry is 
published by Messrs. W. Eider & Sons, 14, Bartholomew Close, B.C. 
UNITED HORTICULTURAL BENEFIT AND PROVIDENT 
SOCIETY. 
The annual general meeting of this Society was held at the 
Caledonian Hotel, Adel phi, on Monday, Match 12 th, Mr. B. Wynne 
occupying the chair. The attendance, owing doubtless to the wet, was 
not large, numbering between thirty and forty. The Secrttary (Mr. W. 
Collins) read the report and balance-sheet for the jear 1893, which was 
carried unanimously. 
It is pleasant to know that this Society is financ'ally in a flourish¬ 
ing condition, for it is deserving of all the support gardeners can give 
it. It was, too, a matter for congratulation that during the year only 
two deaths had occurred. To the successors of one of these was paid 
the sum of £45 12s. lOd., and the other £24 Ts. 3fd. The member to 
which this latter amount related had not paid money into the Society 
for upwards of five years, which, as the Chairman remarked in his 
address, was a point that should tell greatly in favour of the Society, 
for perhaps no other would have made any disbursement in a parallel 
case. Fifty-eight new members have been elected during the year, and 
as a consequence the funds show an appreciable increase. The amount 
which has been paid during 1893 to sick members is £73 138. 4d., a 
decrease of over £14 from the previous year. No call has been made 
on the benefit fund, the balance of which now stands at upwards of 
£6200. A balance in hand of over £2000 is proved on the Benevolent 
Fund ; thatof the Management Fund amounting to £44 ISs. 2^d. The 
Voluntary Convalescent Fund has been materially increased during the 
year by the splendid gift of £50 from Messrs. Hurst & Son, in com¬ 
memoration of the jubilee of the establishment of the firm. The 
heartiest thanks of the meeting were {iccorded for this amount. No call 
appears to have been made on this fund during the year. A slight 
balance accrued to the Society from the annual dinner, which may thus 
be termed a success. 2000 balance-sheets were printed in 1893, but 
after some discussion it was decided that, considering the facilities of 
distribution and the benefit that would accrue, not alone to the Society, 
but to the advertisers, that the number should be increased this year to 
3000. During the year investments have been made to the amount of 
£1000, the chief item of which is £800 in 3^ per cent. South Indian 
Railway stock. The total now invested to the benefit of the Society 
and its members is £8700, which must be considered highly satisfactory. 
In addition to the investments a bonus of 4d. in the pound was placed 
to the credit of the members, which was, as one gentleman remarked, 
very pleasant to know, as it would swell the amount of his balance 
somewhat considerably. 
In moving the adoption of the report, Mr. Wynne expressed the 
opinion that the Society was one of the best of which he knew. The 
benefits to members were far greater than from any other, and consider¬ 
ing the able and energetic officers which the Society has, it behoved all 
members to endeavour to enlist new ones, that the officers might have 
the pleasure of seeing the Society, in which they took such a deep 
interest, make rapid progress in its good work. If, said he, each of the 
487 members would undertake during this year to find one new one, 
what a splendid lift that would give to the Society, which would then 
be established on a perfectly firm financial basis. As some jmall encou¬ 
ragement, and to show that he was anxious to add his mite to this 
increase, he undertook to provide one member during the ytar. Every 
