History 



Introduction. 



The heating or carbonizing of wood for the purpose of 

 manufacturing charcoal has been in practice as long as 

 history is recorded. It is believed that it is as old as civili- 

 zation itself. In the manufacture of charcoal by the old pro- 

 cess, the wood is heated to such temperatures that it becomes 

 carbonized while the gases that pass oil in the form of dense, 

 heavy, black smoke have given rise to the modern processes 

 of distilling wood. 



Altogether two distinct branches of the industry have been. 

 developed in this country. The most important branch is 

 devoted to the utilization of the denser and heavier hardwoods 

 and seeks the recovery of the following commercial products : 

 wood alcohol, acetate of lime, and charcoal. In addition, 

 the minor products are wood tar and wood gas, both of which 

 are at the present time usually utilized as fuel in the heating 

 process. Only those hardwoods that are comparatively free 

 from an excessive content of gums, tannins, resins, etc., are 

 desirable. The so-called northern hardwoods, such as maple, 

 birch and beech, are considered the most suitable. Hickory 

 and oak are also considered of almost equal value. 



The other branch of the wood distillation industry requires 

 resinous woods and the objective products are, on the other 

 hand, turpentine, tar, wood oils, and charcoal. The southern 

 longleaf pine is the best wood for this kind of distillation 

 and up to the present time has been practically the only one 

 used for this purpose. This bulletin deals only with the 

 distillation, of hardwoods in. New York State. 



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