Previously to felling the trees a man or stout lad is sent before, who removes the bark from the root upwards for a distance of 2 ft. or 3 ft.; this not only prevents its being injured when laying in and felling the tree, but is convenient for after-stripping as well. When the stools are intended for reproduction great care is necessary to avoid tearing or loosening the bark from the roots. After being thus prepared the trees are felled in the usual manner, those under 6 in. in diameter being cut with the axe; above that size it is found an economy of time and timber to fell with the cross-cut saw. Following in the rear of the cutters should be a squad of men, to clear the trunk and larger limbs of all branches down to 1 in. in diameter, leaving the limbs to be peeled as part of the tree. Heavy timber and large branches are usually peeled where they fall, but it will be found convenient to have the smaller trees and branches carried out to some open space adjoining the stacking ground, and peeled while one end is supported by means of two forked sticks placed against each other. When the bark of small branches cannot readily be removed by the peeling-iron, a smooth and flat stone is brought into use, beside which the peeler sits, and with one hand holds the branch on the stone, moving it along from one end to the other, at the same time applying the mallet with the other hand until the bark becomes loosened from the wood. Here it may be well to issue a caution against a too frequent use of the mallet, which should never be brought into request when the bark can be otherwise removed from the wood, as all hammering and beating not only diminishes the quality of tannin, but has a tendency to blacken the fleshy part of the bark and cause rapid decay in a bad season. The body, or trunk bark, is removed in lengths of from 30 in. to 36 in., and in as large pieces as possible. [Illustration: BARKING TOOLS]