TURPENTINE ORCHARDING 455 



DISTILLATION OF CRUDE TURPENTINE 



The process of distillation requires experience and care on 

 the part of the operator to secure the highest yields of turpen- 

 tine and the best grades of rosin. 



The apparatus consists of a large copper retort, holding from 

 ten to thirty barrels/ a condensing tank, a coil and a straining 

 trough. The bottom of the retort is slightly arched in the 

 center to facilitate the withdrawal of the rosin through a large 

 gate valve. A detachable neck fits over a narrow mouth on 

 top of the retort and conveys the volatile matter to the con- 

 denser from which the oil and water are carried by gravity to 

 a barrel. The base of the retort is about 5 feet above ground, 

 which allows for the placement of a grate underneath and also 

 permits the withdrawal of the rosin from the retort by gravity. 

 The retort is inclosed on all sides by brick and has a stack on 

 one side to carry off the smoke from the hre. 



The strainers through which the hot rosin is passed are three 

 in number, and are 30 inches wide, from 12 to 16 feet long and 

 1 2 inches deep and are made so they will nest. The top one has 

 a |-inch mesh screen to catch the bark and other coarse refuse; 

 the second a |-inch mesh ; and the third a very fine copper mesh 

 over which a layer of cotton batten is placed. The latter re- 

 moves sediment that was not strained out previously. 



Retorts are often of 25-barrel capacity, and including the 

 copper neck weigh about 1000 pounds. They cost approxi- 

 mately $750. 



The following are the usual charges for a retort of the above 

 size: 



Virgin dip 12 barrels 



Yearling dip 10 barrels 



3-year-old dip 10 barrels 



Buck 8 barrels 



Scrape 8 barrels 



The older the face from which resin is secured the more it 

 boils up on heating, hence the retort charges for old dip are less 



1 A standard barrel for crude turpentine holds 280 pounds — about one-half 

 the size of a 5 2-gallon barrel. 



