When oak branches are so small that useful wood cannot be got out of them, perhaps the best way to utilise them would be to convert them to charcoal. Small branches are, however, not the best for making charcoal; large branches that can be sawn into 3-ft. or 4-ft. lengths are most suitable: they lie close, and there is not an excessive waste during burning. With small branches the labour of cutting up will be found to be very heavy; but if they were not cut up the branches would occupy very much space and the loss during burning would be heavy. The branches may be cut up and then stacked in a circular mound, as shown in the figure. First of all, three or four wood piles should be driven into the ground close together, so as to form a rough chimney. A ring should be marked around these piles, and four to eight shallow furrows should be ploughed in the ground from the edge of the ring to the central piles.

The wood may now be stacked around the piles and heaped closely till it forms a mound neatly as high as the piles and nearly as large as the ring. As a protective covering, the whole mound will now have to be covered with earth, turf, or wet clay. When this is finished, the central piles may be removed, and lighted brands placed in the mouths of the furrows, when the draught produced by the central chimney will soon cause the heap to ignite. The burning should be carried on slowly; when the heat becomes excessive, it may be moderated by placing a piece of turf over the furrow and damping the earth. When smoke ceases to issue from the chimney, turf or earth should be placed over the furrows, and the whole of the covering well damped. The pile should be allowed to cool somewhat before it is pulled down.

Converting Oak Branches to Charcoal.