=(2) Charcoal.=—The following are the chief uses to which charcoal is put in this country: the manufacture of gun and blasting powders, the heating of hall-stoves, cooking, boiling preserves, and the smelting of iron. It is also employed as a filtering and deodorizing agent. Further, it occupies an important place in the making of black paint, ink, ivory- and lamp-black, and is valuable as a horticultural requisite in the packing of bulbs and for potting purposes. In the manufacture of gunpowder, for which a highly inflammable quality is required, the three principal woods used are the so-called dogwood (_Rhamnus frangula_), the white willow (_Salix alba_), and the common alder (_Alnus glutinosa_), though not infrequently the hazel, chestnut and our native _Rhamnus catharticus_ are substituted. Charcoal produced from the dogwood is, however, preferred to any other, as this forms a very explosive powder, used for military small-arms and for sporting purposes. For this purpose the dogwood is cut when an inch in diameter, and, if possible, when not more than of ten years’ growth. Although iron cylinders or retorts are more economical in the making of charcoal, yet for various reasons the primitive method of pit-burning is to be recommended for general estate purposes. The manufacture of charcoal in this way having received due attention elsewhere in this book, it need not be repeated here. It should be remembered that small wood is more profitable for charcoal making than that of a larger size, not only because the former requires little or no cutting and splitting, but for the main reason that it can be procured at less cost, and produces more charcoal, weight for weight. Even at the present low price of charcoal—about 1_s._ per bushel—there is a fair profit attached to the making of it, as will be seen from the following figures, which may be taken as fairly representative. A cord of ordinary mixed wood, which should measure, after being stacked, 12 ft. long, 3 ft. wide, and 3 ft. high, will usually, when properly burned, yield 35 bushels of charcoal, and this, at the low price of 10_d._ will realize 29_s._ 2_d._ The cost of cutting this cord of wood, which is generally performed by contract, will be at the least 5_s._, and that of burning 7_s._; thus leaving a clear profit of 17_s._ 2_d._ per cord for the wood. Even roots are made into charcoal, and we have seen whole woods grubbed up free of expense, the roots being given in return for the labour; but such work is usually performed during the winter, when labour is at a discount. Pinewood is not nearly so valuable for charcoal making as hardwood, but the former is not infrequently made to realize a profit of from 8_s._ to 10_s._ per cord of wood.