The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-02-15

DRY, oak, beech, birch, hard maple, ASH,
elm. locust, or cherry Is approximately
equal to one ton 1900 pounds) Of
anthracite coal. 1t takes a cord and \
half Of soft maple and two cords Of
cedar, poplar, or Eastwood, however.
to give the same amount Of heat.
One cord Of mixed wood well sea-
soned equals in heating value at least
one ton 5000 poundsl OF average
grade bituminous coal
If the consumer can buy coal at So a
ton, 1t would hardly be worth his while
to burn first-class wood ut So cord,
except in an open fireplace, because
coal is more convenient fuel. If,
however, coal becomes SO scarce that
titles, the consumer will, in some
cases, have to burn wood at $40 or
even $15 cord.
Methods Of Making Cordwood.
The most common method of making
cordwood is to cut the trees into A.
larger pieces. The pieces are then
piled In a standard cord, which Is s
feet long, feet high, and feet wide.
The contents are 1913 cubic feet, of
which about 70 per cent is wood and
30 per cent air. Wood cut 4 feet long
can be sold to brickyards, limekilns,
Woodworking plants, and other indus
tries, but is too large for household
use. This method is used chiefly where
the tree growth Is comparatively
small, as in second growth, because
such wood splits easily.
Another method, and one better
adapted for old growth hardwoods,
which are difficult to split, Is to saw
the tree into logs Of convenient
lengths, say from 10 to IS feet. These
are "snaked" out to the edge of the
woodland and there sawed and split
into lengths proper for the stove or
furnace. The saving is usually done
by machine, driven either by gasoline
or by electricity. The wood is sawed
into 16-inch lengths. as is customary
with stove material, three runs are
theoretically equivalent to one cord.
Actually they contain somewhat more
wood, since small pieces AN be packed
more closely than larger ones.
Wood Profitable Farm Crop.
Firewood ought to bring a better
profit this year than ever before, on
account of the higher prices which
are likely to prevail. Wood is much
less perishable crop than many which
the farmer raises. When properly
piled, the better kinds of wood will
last from two to three years, though
| 1t steadily deteriorates after the first
year. To have the best heating value,
as we'll as to reduce the cost of haul
ing. wood should be thoroughly sea-
soned, which means air-drying it from
six to eight months. When piled so
as to get a good circulation of air,
however, so per cent of the moisture
may be removed In three months
Wood cut In October and November
therefore, may be burned the latter
part of the winter.
Formerly it was common practice to
nave Woou cut ny CoulIdS loi liVil
81 to $3.50 per cord. With the present
high price of labor, however, the cost
may exceed 50 cord. The great diff.
ficulty in securing farm labor Is dur
ing the harvesting period. If farmers
can secure sufficient labor to harvest
their crops, they should be able to
keep enough men to cut and haul wood
later In the season. In fact, the profit
able employment Of one or two extra
men on the farm duping the winter
may help to solve labor difficulties dur
ing the rush season.
The prices which cordwood will
likely bring this year offer an oppor-
tunity for the farmer to improve his
woodland Improving the woodland
means taking out the poorer trees. In
the past this has seldom been prac
ticable, for the inferior wood was moi
marketable. With wood bringing only
from 81 to IS cord. there is very
little opportunity to secure profit o.
even ST cord. But with the prices
indicated for the coming winter, thin
nings become practicable over Wild
range of country In the vicinity Of goo'
markets.
and fasten the hinges on the unde
side. If teeth are in the way pune