A FOREST TOUR AMONG THE DUNES OF GASCONY. 305 
therefrom, is collected in pots and removed to the factory. This 
operation will now be described more in detail. Towards the 
latter end of February, the dry outer bark is removed by means 
of a special tool (barrasquite) from the place where the cut is to 
be made, up to a point some 4 in. higher than it will extend 
during the coming season. The bark is also cut off from a surface 
wider by about 1 in. than the cut is to be, the object being, not 
only to prevent fragments of falling bark from becoming mixed 
with the resin, but also to save the sharp edge of the tool with 
which the cut is subsequently to be made and renewed. Early in 
March the tree is again visited, and a wound of concave shape, 
about 4 in. wide, 2 or 3 in. high, and less than 545 in. deep, 
is made into the sap wood near the ground, with a peculiarly- 
shaped axe (abchotte). Below this a small curved zinc plate is 
driven into the bark, and this acts as a lip, to guide the flowing 
resin into the earthen pot which is placed below it. The wound 
