3 



had been cut by the broadax. Of the 78 trees blown down in the 

 boxed half of the crop, the fall of 59 was due to the cutting of the 

 boxes. The larger number of cupped trees blown down from causes 

 other than the method of collecting the resin is due to the fact that 

 many had doty hearts and were unfit for boxing, but just as well 

 suited to cupping as sound trees. Many of these were snapped off 

 above the turpentine face by a storm in the spring of 1903. 



TABLE V. Productive surface lost from all causes. 



By far the greater part of this loss in both half crops was due to 

 constantly increasing "dry face." It is evident that in the first year 

 the box cutting was largely responsible for the wide disparity in the 

 amount of dry face in the two half crops, but after the first year the 

 chipping was the determining factor. In fact, the rate of increase of 

 dry face after the first year is greater in the cupped than in the boxed 

 trees, and is due, no doubt, to the higher average number of faces 

 per tree in the cupped half. (See Bulletin 40, page 27.) 



IMPROVEMENTS. 



Since the cup and gutter system has been in use, a number of 

 improvements in the equipment and in methods have been made. 



Cups. The quality of the cups has been materially improved. Many 

 of those first used allowed the resin to seep through. This was due 

 to the fact that the cups were made in molds, a method of manufacture 

 requiring a soft, wet clay. This objection has been entirety overcome 

 by the use of machinery and a stiff and much drier clay. The new 

 cups allow no seepage and are just as desirable for collecting the resin 

 as if they had been glazed at considerable cost. 



Shipping the cups. The complete success attained in shipping the 

 cups in bulk has effected a saving to the operator, both in decreased 

 breakage in transit and in the cost of the wooden crates formerly 

 used. 



Dipping. At the time cups were -introduced it was hoped that 

 with experience the dippers would be able to collect as much gum per 

 day from cups as is usual from boxes. This hope has been more than 

 realized, for in practically all cases it has been found that the dippers 

 are able to collect more gum per day from cups than from boxes. 

 Difficulty was frequently experienced in getting good box dippers to 

 undertake the dipping of cups, but after the change was once made a 

 preference for cup dipping was uniformly noticed. 



