“That must take a great deal of wood,” said Rollo.
“Yes,” said Jonas, “and when it is turned into charcoal, they get a great many loads of it.”
“How do they get ashes enough to cover it up?” asked Rollo.
“O, they don’t cover it with ashes,” said Jonas; “they cover it with turf.”
“Yes,” said Jonas, “turf is the best thing to cover the heap with. If they had ashes, it would be very troublesome to put it on, and then it would be sliding down, and letting the fire break out. But they cut square pieces of turf, and cover the heap all over with them, very tight, and so only just air enough gets in to keep the fire slowly burning.”
“How do you set it on fire?” asked Rollo.
“I believe they leave a hole in the middle,” said Jonas, “from the top down to the bottom, and then they put the fire down there.”
“I wonder if I couldn’t make a charcoal bed,” said Rollo.
“Yes,” replied Jonas, “you might make a little one, I suppose.”
“Why, you might take some dry wood from the shed, and wheel it down the lane, and through the gate into the pasture. Then you might take a spade, and cut up some turf, though that would be rather hard work for you.”
“I wish you would cut the turf for me,” said Rollo.
“Well,” said Jonas, “perhaps I will. Then you must hollow out a little place in the bare spot I make by taking up the turf, and make your pile of wood there, leaving a hole in the middle.”
“Why, you can take three short pieces of board, as long as you intend the height of your pile to be, and stand them up on the ground, so as to leave a three-cornered space between them, and then pile your wood around the three boards.”
“Your wood must be small,” continued Jonas, “or else you can’t pile it very snugly in a small pile. You had better take small round sticks, and saw them short, and lean them up against your boards all around, and so make a snug pile. After the pile is ready, you must bank up a little against the bottom of your heap with the loose earth, and then begin to put on the turf. But that will be a nice business.”
“Because you must fit them carefully all around; and, as the heap will be round, and will grow smaller towards the top, square pieces of turf will not fit. You will have to cut them into shape with a knife. You can get an old knife to cut them with, and so fit them together. But you must fit them together well, or the air will get in, and your heap of wood will blaze up, and so it will be spoiled for charcoal.”