River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-10-06

M ~ the Spr1ngt1me, Wnen prlmTOSeS
are carpeting the copses and
hedgerows, there come gangs of
III men into the Hampshire woods to
fell the oak trees and take off
their bark. They work hard, for their
lob only lasts during the flow of the
sap, 1t being impossible to bark trees
unless the sap is in them, and the
gang are paid for the weight Of the
bark which they can manage to strip
off in that time.
There are three distinct flights" of
sap, each lasting about fortnight. II
the weather Is warm, the first flight
may begin early In April; but II
checked by frosty nights, perhaps not
until the beginning of May. The last
flight is at midsummer. The first one,
Just as the buds are beginning to
swell, Is the best, as the bark Is then
heavy with sap; and the last one Is
much the poorest. The bark ought to
make a rafting sound when taken Off,
but there is little or no rattle" in
midsummer bark, and 1t Is much light
er. as the sap is In the leaves. Only
ssbIack" trees, l. e., trees that Will not
strip in the spring, are left till then.
First of ALL the bark has to be tested
to see If it issready to strip. To do
this q man goes up to the oak, cuts
a bit off a branch, and is thus able to
see il the sap is well up. This is real
" the best test. But very often, in
stead of climbing up, he marks out
with his AK a broad belt on the stand
Ing tree two or three feet above the
ground. and into the cut inserts his
stripping iron, which Is an instru-
ment something like very long
chisel. If the bark does not part read
lily from the wood, but sticks and
breaks, 1t shows that the sap Is not
vet flowing, and the tree must be left
till later on in the season. II, how
ever. 1t is ready, the barkers can run
round the tree, removing the whole
ring In one piece, so that 1t can be
stood up on the ground like a gigantic
cuff. Next the "breech" bark is re-
moved. This is the part below the
belt. and is the very best piece. 1t is
taken off very carefully in narrow
strips running right down to the base
of the trunk, and the stripping sounds
lust like tearing calico.
It is important to throw the tree in
the right place, so as to avoid dam
aging It's neighbors, and unless it has
a decided lean in the desired direc-
ton. this has to be managed by means
of a "sink" and wedges. The sink"
is made by chopping away some of the
81 Go inh thn trnn fS
to be made to fall. Then the big
cross-cut saw comes into play, and
iron wedges are driven in closely fol-
lowing the saw. If the latter gets too
far ahead, it becomes impossible to
get the wedge in. 1t simply flies out
when struck, and the tree is liable to
fall backwards over the saw, and prob
ably does a great deal of unnecessary
damage. The men work In gangs and
very hard. ours is very busy job"
they say; "you see, we have got to do
It all while 1t runs" and the dirtier
they get from the sticky sap the bet
ter pleased they are, as 1t shows that
It is running well. Three skilful men
will completely strip medium-sized
tree in two or three hours. The bark
Is first divided into lengths of about
two feet. Then, to loosen 1t, the cuts
are tapped with the back OF a bill
hook or an ak, and the whole piece is
levered of with the stripper. Cold
sticky and hard to take of. but warm
weather makes the bark run" well.
The younger members OF the gang are
called colts" anc It Is their job to
strip the smaller branches. while the
ganger Usually does the body bark or
trunk pieces. The barkers begin early
In the morning and go on till dark;
but, though the work is hard, they find
II very pleasant IL the woods in
spring. and the outdoor life seems to
suit them. Dinner-hour is a welcome
break IN the days work The young
est colt Is always also the cook, and It
is his duty to attend to the fire and
make enormous canfuls of cocoa and
tea. He gives long whistle when all
IS ready, and the men throw down
their tools, whistle to distant barkers
and go back TO the camp. where they
cluster round the fire outside the tent,
cooking slices of bacon on pointed
sticks and drinking basins of cocoa
When q tree has been entirely
stripped, forked sticks are driven into
the ground with cross poles between
them, and the pieces of bark are neat
" stood up on end to dry, leaning
against each other with the rough
bark outside and supported by the
ridge pole. The big trunk niaces are