The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-06-25

for the past two years kept Sparks pref
ty steadily at work among the stumps.
Sparks commenced his Investigations
on the theory that the process he had
seen succeed in the Yount clearings at
Woodland, was approximately correct
for the particular soil and climatic con-
ditions of that locality. He therefore
learned thoroughly the method used by
the Woodland people, expecting to in
troduce it into other regions with such
variations as the changed conditions
should justify.
Method Of Burning
Here is the way they did it in the
Yount clearings:
Chop the bark from the lower part
of the stump. Take some dry wood
broken in lS-inch lengths or nearly so,
and stand the pieces around the stump,
placing the finer and more combustible
sticks underneath. On the windward
side Of the stump, leave place for an
opening in the covering over the wood,
by placing against the pile two pieces of
bark or wood with the upper ends meet
ing and the lower ends about l2 inches
apart on the ground. In the triangle
thus formed, pile fine chips and shaw
lings for kindling--a little pitch is
lgood. Arrange it so that the pitchy
kindling leads into the interior Of the
|pile. This will secure quick start
when the fire is lighted.
Having arranged the wood as indi-
cated, take some soil (that containing
a good percentage Of clay is prefer,
able) and cover the pile clear around
the stump with the exception Of the
Triangular space where the fire is to be
started. Lay each shovelful very care.
fully against the wood, placing the first
bottom tier around the stump quite
loosely. Do not permit the earth to
lsift down into the wood and shavings
Put the upper tiers of shovelfuls on very
compactly. The "collar" around the
lstump should be made especially tight
j Light the fire in the triangular open
ling already described. If the directions
just given have been carefully followed
the fire will burn into the pile, at first
consuming the chips and kindling undel
the larger sticks, then spreading to all
the wood around the stump. When the
fire is burning clear around, and smoke
is issuing from the pile, close the trian
gular opening with loose earth. As thu
fire continues to burn slowly, the pil'
: settles evenly all the way around
Where breaks occur in the covering
close them with more earth. When thu
: smoke issuing from the cover is blue
too much air is reaching the fire, an'
the charcoal is being consumed, which i
. undesirable, SO put on more cover. Whel
I the smoke is white and steamy, movini
: upward in a sluggish way, charcoal i
r being made Of the stump, which is tn
: desired thing.
/ From this point on, the fire, if prop
:. Ierly controlled, will work into the bas
+ of the stump. Where big root is en-
i countered, the fire will first bur
;. straight through it, and, upon strikin
a the soil on the opposite side, follow
P down the under side Of the root, grad
n ually working to the upper part which
l. finally reaches. In this slow way tn
d base of the stump and the big roots fc
IL several feet underground will be turne
70 into charcoal.
"a When the base of the stump is Ell
'e tirely consumed, the upper part fall
over. The break in the covering thu
made is lightly covered with cart
Burning will continue in the roots III
: !. til they are pretty well destroyed. The
= If IL is desired to consume the charcoa
= the cover is opened, and total combu
:. ton is speedy and complete. The so
- next to the stump and the roots is nj
.e ee injured by the fire, except a small sp'
lust under the crown Of the stun
y, where the excessive heat sometime
- causes the forming of "clinker."
- (To be continued.)
"