KAURI PINE. 

 (Dammar a.) 



This New Zealand tree affords an excellent substitute for 

 northern pine. Although not true pine, it belongs to the same 

 family as the pine and other conifers. The light, strong, 

 durable, elastic wood is obtainable in large-sized pieces suit- 

 able for masts. The tree is described as tall and very hand- 

 some. The tough leather-like leaves, about one inch in length, 

 suggest those of the box. Fresh exudations resemble ven ice- 

 turpentine. A fossil found on Martha's Vineyard has been quite 

 positively identified as that of a Kauri Pine tree. 



This species is universally noted for a resin that possesses 

 the quality of uniting with linseed oil more perfectly at lower 

 temperatures than most others employed in the manufacture of 

 varnish. Kauri resin is thus one of the most valuable constitu- 

 ents of good varnish, and has sold for as much as one thousand 

 dollars to fifteen hundred dollars a ton. The best resin occurs 

 as a fossil, and is collected by digging over areas known to 

 be fruitful, but from which trees have long since disappeared. 

 The deposits of resins exist a few feet below the surface. The 

 pieces, which vary in size from small pebbles to lumps as large 

 as eggs, are scraped or otherwise cleansed by natives in the 

 field. One mass of two hundred and twenty pounds weight 

 has been reported.* There are also fresh-product and semi- 

 fossil resins. 



*This large mass is mentioned by R. Ingham Clark, F.R.G.S., in "Notes 

 on Fossil Resins," published by C. Letts & Co., London. 



