COMMERCIAL USES OF LONGLEAF PINE 



901 







Coltrtcsy of the Southern Pine Assoeiiitiun. 



LONGLEAF PINE TREES TAPPED FOR TIIICIK "GUM" 



Thousands of acres of these trees are tapped in this manner each year for their "gum," (Oleo-resin) from which resin and turpentine are derived. 

 The old methods of tapping resulted ni killing a great many trees in a few years but the modern and improved methods are not so liarmtul. 

 Formerly the "gum" was collected in holes or boxes out of the base of the trees. Now cup systems are used, the one invented by Prot. Herty 

 a few vears ago being considered among the best. Turpentine stills are scattered all over the yellow pme belt. 1 he "gum gathered trom the 

 trees is jilaced in these stills and heated. The lighter portion comes to the top and passes olf as va])or, which when condensed becomes the 

 turpentine of commerce. The heavier yiortion is drawn off from tlic bottom. It becomes resin. 



of resin :inil timber, and many cup devices were tried, 

 so as to (1(1 awiiy with the bo-x, but it was until about til- 

 teen years ago that Professor Charles Herty perfected 

 the cup and gutter system which bears his name. Other 

 cup systems have come in since, and today the old waste- 

 ful "boxing" system is rapidly being abandoned. 



Crude resin is c'lllected in barrels, hauled to the tur- 

 pentine stills and distilled. The turpentine being the 

 lighter product comes off tirst and is collected in barrels 

 The heavier resin remains in the still and is drawn otif 

 at its base. In the early days tur])eniine was the most 

 valuable product, but now resin is more in demand. 



Today the title of "naval stores" is rather a misnomer, 

 since their use is now so largely in the arts and industries 

 rather than in shipping. Turpentine and resin enter 

 into the manufacture of paints, varnishes, papers, soaj), 

 lubricants, rubber goods and in the pharmaceutical in- 

 dustries. Turpentine sells for about 42 3^ cents per gal- 

 lon wholesale, while resin of the best grade is worth 

 about $7.50 per barrel, and pine tar 8JX cents per gallon. 



THE TI'RPENTINER AND HIS METHODS 



The turpentiner is almost a nomad. It takes only five 

 ^•ears to exhaust an "orchard," which means that he 

 nnist move almost that often. So he moves his still, his 

 liouse, his store and all his other possessions and starts 

 anew. He generally has his own crew of negroes who 

 follow him from place to place, and depend upon him 

 Inr employment, supplies, counsel and protection. Some 

 of the turpentine men have in their employ negroes 

 whose fathers and grandfathers were the slaves of their 

 fathers and grandfathers. Without the negro, it would 

 be ditticult to carry on the naval stores industry. Life 

 in the turpentine camps is often even rougher and more 

 primitive than in the old time logging camp, yet some of 

 the turpentine operators carry on their establishment in 

 the spirit of the Old South. 



LONGLEAF PINE LUMBERING 



Longleaf lumber was first used locally in the region 

 of its occurrence. In the sections of the South where 



