Firewood and rough, unsaleable timber, as also inferior grades of heavy coppice wood, are mainly utilized for the production of charcoal. The wood is sawn into pieces about 2 ft. long, this being the most convenient size for building the kiln, and these again split if required to some 4 in. to the side, and when a sufficient quantity for two pits has been cut up, the building of these is proceeded with. It has been found economical to burn two pits at the same time, as both can be attended to as conveniently as one, and it is unnecessary for the men to sit up at night to watch each separately. The charcoal pits, one of which is shown in the accompanying sketch, are made of a broadly conical shape, 21 ft. in diameter and about 9 ft. high, and the mode of construction is as follows:— A strong stake is driven firmly into the ground and left protruding about a foot. Around this are placed small pieces of dry ash of equal length, and standing as close to the upright stake as possible; around this another layer is placed in the same manner, and this is continued until a circle 5 ft. in diameter is obtained. A circle 1 ft. in diameter, and having the top of the stake previously driven into the ground as centre, is next made by placing the wood horizontally on the upright pieces and side by side, the ends of each piece being placed at the circumference of the circle already made, and directed towards its centre. Layer upon layer is built in this manner until the pit is of the required height, the wood used here being dry pieces of ash 2 ft. in length, but split rather smaller than the ordinary pieces. A sort of chimney is thus formed, by means of which the pit is fired. Outside the core the wood is placed on end and reclining inwards, this being continued until the pits are of the required size. When the building is completed the pits are covered with newly cut turf, the grassy side placed innermost, beginning at the base and working towards the top, each line of turf overlapping the previous one by a few inches. The circular hole or chimney is left open for firing. Before turfing the top half of each pit it is carefully examined, and any crevices between the wood packed full of small pieces of turf and sawdust to exclude the air. The turfs are cut about 1 ft. in width, and of any convenient length. The quantity required for two pits of the dimensions stated is seven loads. When the pit is satisfactorily covered it is fired by dropping a couple of shovelfuls of burning wood and some dry pieces of pine or ash into the opening left at the top; the top turf is then put on, which effectually shuts up the chimney, and the process of charring commences. The smoke is first seen issuing from the lower half of each pit, where the chinks were not packed with sawdust, and ultimately it escapes from the whole surface.