TURPENTINE ORCHARDING 449 



D. CUP SYSTEMS 



The wastefulness of the box system early led to a search for 

 a better method. The first effort in this country to devise a new 

 receptacle was made in 1869 by a South Carolina operator, whose 

 invention, however, did not prove successful. A Louisiana 

 operator put out a cup in 1895, but it proved too expensive to 

 place on the trees, and was, therefore, abandoned. During the 

 last fifteen years numerous other devices have been brought out 

 but only a few of them have proved of value. 



herty's cup and gutter 



About ten years ago a " cup-and-gutter " system was patented^ 

 and has since proven so practical that it has been widely adopted. 

 An earthen or galvanized iron pot'- or cup into which the resin is 

 conveyed by means of galvanized iron gutters" is hung on the 

 face of the tree. The cup and gutters are advanced up the tree 

 at the beginning of each season, so that the distance between the 

 streak and cup is always short. This lessens the evaporation 

 of volatile oils and reduces the amount of scrape. The gum 

 also does not absorb as much coloring matter in passing over 

 the scarified face, and, therefore, produces a higher grade of 

 rosin. 



Hanging the Cups. — The work of hanging cups begins early 

 in the season, usually in February or early March. The organi- 

 zation of the crew is different from that used in cutting boxes 

 because of the variety of work to be performed. On some 

 operations a laborer armed with a hack precedes the crew and 

 cuts two diagonal streaks on the tree, which meet at a point 

 directly over the center of the face. Face cutters then follow 

 and,, with an 8- or 9-pound broadax, cut two opposite flat faces 

 10 or 12 inches high and from 6 to 10 inches wide that meet at 



1 Dr. Charles H. Herty, patentee. 



^ The day pots are 7 inches high; top diameter 5I inches; bottom diameter 

 3 inches; capacity from i to 15 quarts. The gah^anized iron pots are of appro.xi- 

 mately the same capacity. 



' The gutters are made of strips 2 inches wide, bent lengthwise along the center 

 at an angle of 120 degrees. 



