l6o TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



left the country. Rules with reference to the lighting of fires in 

 pine areas, either for purpose of clearing of land or for the 

 manufacture of charcoal, insisted on the responsibility of all 

 parties for any fire damage that might be caused by carelessness 

 or neglect. Definite directions are given for the selection of the 

 material that might be used for the manufacture of tar for naval 

 purposes, and it is forbidden to make a product which consists 

 of a mixture of tar derived from roots and heartwood and tar 

 derived from wood normally used for production of " brai gras." 

 The season of preparation is restricted, and in order to encourage 

 the industry it is forbidden to impose any tax or duty on the 

 product that would be liable to restrict the profit of the makers. 

 At a later date the order was repeated in a stricter form and 

 additional clauses were added. This later order appeared 

 in 1725. It would appear that the adulteration of the products 

 had become rather a serious affair, and that the makers not only 

 required instruction as to methods of manufacture but also some 

 moral guidance in commercial integrity. It is shown that 

 stones, sand, wood, and such material, although it increases the 

 weight of the barrel, is of no value for the purpose of improving 

 the value of the resin. Goats, sheep, or other domestic animals 

 found in young pine crops are declared to be liable to confisca- 

 tion. In order that the products of resin manufacture might 

 at all times be traced to the maker in cases of infringement of 

 the laws, it is laid down that all material manufactured must 

 bear the mark of the maker. Inspectors were appointed to 

 enforce the laws. Further intervention of the State in the 

 management of pine areas is recorded at a slightly later date. 

 It had been found that certain landowners, anxious to realise 

 quickly the value of the standing timber on their land, had 

 developed the practice of selling trees for purpose of charcoal 

 manufacture. These trees, it was argued, should have been 

 left standing so long as they were capable of giving a yield of 

 resin products. Removal from the ground caused a direct loss 

 to the workers and to the nation. In 1725, therefore, a royal 

 order was published which expressly forbade the cutting of such 

 trees without the necessary authority. The export of resin 

 products to England, Ireland, and Holland had for a time a 

 rather discouraging effect on the industry. It was represented 

 to the Government that owing to the export of resin products 

 to these countries the price had unduly increased, and that in 



