What will it cost to prepare a ton of firewood? This is a question that is not readily answered, the cost of labour in various parts of the country varying so widely. In England, generally speaking, the cutting up and stacking of a cord of fairly clean firewood—that is to say when large knotty pieces, which require the mallet and wedge for their manipulation, are excluded—costs from 5_s._ to 6_s._ Again, how many cords of wood will make a ton of firewood? This is another question that is more readily asked than answered, for the difference in weight between equal-sized logs of, say, oak and birch is considerable. For all practical purposes, however, we may state that about one and a half cords of wood go to the ton of firewood, thus making the cost of preparing and housing the latter about 10_s._ The lowest price at which we have sold a ton weight fresh cut was 8_s._, but 10_s._ is nearer the usual price, or about one-half of what is generally obtained for firewood. The cartage of this ton of wood cannot be less than 3_s._ Much depends upon the distance it must be carted, no doubt, but it is usually delivered within a radius of two miles for the price quoted. The whole matter, therefore, stands something like this: Lowest cost of a ton of wood, 8_s._, cutting same into firewood and stacking, 8_s._; cost of delivery, 3_s._—total 19_s._ It will thus be seen that the difference in price between a ton of firewood and one of coal is inconsiderable, and every one knows which of the two as fuel lasts the longer and imparts the greater amount of heat. Of course, where the firewood is cut up during wet weather by the estate workmen and consumed on the estate, the matter will stand somewhat differently, the two principal items, the cost of preparing and cutting being considerably diminished. In districts where the firewood cannot readily be sold, and would only rot in the woods, it is a wise policy to have it cut into firewood, not only for the saving effected in the coal bill, but also for preservation of the health of the plantations. In mining districts, or on the outskirts of large towns, there is usually little difficulty in getting rid of all surplus wood for firing and other purposes, but in thinly-populated, outlying parts of the country, where the cost of transit is excessive, the actual difference between the price of a ton of coal and one of firewood has to be considered.