7J6 PROPERTIES, HARVESTING AND DISPOSAL OF RESIN. 



4. Treatment of Forests where Resin-tapping is Practised.* 



One of the best examples of a maritime pine forest in 

 which resin-tapping is practised is the State Forest of La 

 Teste, in latitude 45, near Arcachon, bordering the Bay of 

 Biscay. It is situated on a sandy soil, with layers of iron- 

 pan, termed alios. The rainfall is 3'2 inches and the mean 

 temperature 56 F. With the exception, along the coast, 



vi 



Fig. 383. Cross-section of a pine first tapped " alive, "and then tapped 



to death. 



Grooves 1 to 7 made from age of 21 every 4 years to 45. Grooves f. to IX. 

 made at the age of 51 years and have killed the tree. 



of 1,580 acres of protection-forest which is very scrubby 

 owing to the violence of the westerly winds and serves to 

 protect the better portion of the forest from wind and shifting 

 sand, the remaining area (4,500 acres) is worked chiefly for 

 resin. It is divided into 12 compartments, averaging 375 

 acres each, which are regenerated successively when from 55 



* Tin's account is Uic result of ;i visit made by tin; translator to the forest ol' 

 La Teste, in 1894, with Mi'. Hearle, when Mr. (Jraiuljean, the local forest-oil k-er, 

 kindly afforded full information regard ing the management of the forest. 



