and its Application in the Arts, 253 



resin, but they always separated into a tough solid and a 

 thickish liquid, however carefully mixed at every stage of the 

 experiment; and the result in the iron ladle was as (r). 



t. Coal-tar naphtha entered fully into combination with 

 kauri resin in the cold; but on applying heat no fluidity 

 could be produced, the naphtha exhaled gradually, leaving 

 the resin tough and clammy all through the experiment. 



w. Mixed with one-eighth its weight of linseed oil, and 

 gradually heated in the ladle, combination took place, with 

 frothing just as the resin began to discolour. The whole be- 

 came liquid, and poured easily out of the ladle. When cold 

 it dropped readily on being kindled, and melted liquid at a 

 moderate heat, but its valuable properties were destroyed. It 

 had become more tender and crisp than common resin. And 

 the same result followed when the combination was very 

 slowly effected, and with a smaller proportion of oil. 



w. Tallow, which forms a remarkably clammy compound 

 with common resin, was substituted for linseed oil, with the 

 kauri. But making the composition with whatever care, and 

 in whatever proportions, the results were equally unfavour- 

 able. 

 , X, Wax answered no better than tallow or linseed oil. 



Uses of Kauri Resin in the Arts* 



1, From its hardness, fragrancy, and brilliancy the white 

 parts seem well suited for varnish making, for which its solu- 

 bility in alcohol gives it great advantage. Harder and more 

 free from colour than mastic, quite as soluble, and at per- 

 haps less than one-tenth the price, it seems to be an import- 

 ant addition to our materials for alcoholic varnishes. It may 

 indeed come to be placed quite at their head. The alcoholic 

 solution d^ with one-fourth its measure of the turpentine solu- 

 tion /z, is a very excellent spirit varnish, quite colourless, 

 quick-drying, clear, and hard. The solution k requires more 

 care in application, being liable to precipitation as the alcohol 

 dries away in the cold, but in a warm dry place it lies well, 

 and gives a fine surface. Its insolubility in pyroacetic spirit 

 is, however, an unfortunate limit to its utility as a material for 

 varnish. 



2. Its hardness, fragrancy, and inflammability pointed it 

 out as suitable for sealing-wax, for which purpose the experi- 

 ments on its fusibility were instituted. But they have not 

 been successful in adapting it, per se, to that purpose. Com- 

 bined, however, with lac and turpentine it answers much bet- 

 ter, and the manufacturer will soon ascertain the best pro- 

 portions. After many small experiments, the most successful 

 with me has been : Kauri, lac, each one ounce ; resin three 



