NAVAL STORES, THEIR PRODLXTION AND .MANUFACTL-RE 



173 



PARAGRAPH XL. 

 NAVAL STORES, THEIR PRODUCTIOX AND MANUFACTURE. 



(A) STATISTICS. In 1909 the United States produced 29,000,000 gallons of spirits of turpentine, 

 worth -5^12,600,000; 3,300,000 barrels of rosin or colophany, worth ••>• 12,600,000. In 1911, the prices of 

 turpentine and rosin had much increased. 



One acre of turpentine orchard yields in three years' tapping 

 25 gallons of spirits of turpentine and 800 pounds of rosin. 



Two hundred boxes yield in a season one barrel of crude 

 rosin (280 lbs.) worth, in igilj.-'S for "dip" and •■■■4 for "scrape." 

 A barrel of rosin yields six gallons of spirits of turpentine. 



Orchards are leased at •■■•2 to ■^■3 per acre for three years. 



(B) METHODS OF ORCHARDIXG: — 

 1. Southern method (also .Austrian method). 



(a) Species USED:- Longleaf pine: Cuban pine; short 

 leaf pine, notably Pinus echinata (small trees preferred); in 1911 

 also Pinus taeda; in Austria, Pinus austriaca. 



(b) Operations of the first season :- 



1. Boxing: -The tree is cut into, 8 inches above ground, with 

 a narrow, thin-bladed "boxing axe." Usually two boxes to 

 a tree, on opposite sides. Width of box is 14 inches; depth 

 horizontally 4 inches, vertically 7 inches; height of the tip 

 above the lip about 10 inches. Boxing takes place in January 

 and February. 



2. Cornenng.-- Immediately after boxing the tree is "cornered." 

 Cornering implies the removal of two triangular strips of 

 bark and sapwood above the box, running as high as the 

 tip. The resulting grooves act as gutters for the rosin. 



Near the base of the tree, litter and 

 debris are removed so as to reduce the 

 danger from fire. 



3. Hacking: -Hacking or chipping begins in 

 early March and is continued until October. 

 The "hack" is a bent-bladed, sharp instru- 

 ment which is drawn obliquely across the 

 tree, producing a series of V shaped grooves 

 in the outer layers of sapwood above the box 

 and the corners. The points of the V's stand 

 in a vertical line over the tip. The surface 

 thus scarified is called a face. The chipping 

 removes a layer of sapwood ' ..-inch to I'V 

 inch deep. Shallow chipping secures larger 

 yields of dip (less dry face) and smaller death- 

 rates of trees worked for rosin. The face of 

 the first season is from 18 inches to 24 inches 

 high and always remains as wide as the box. 



4. Collecting: -The virgin dip accumulating in 

 the box during the first season is dipped out 

 seven or eight times; the rosin, hardened Hack with handle Taking the dip from a box in a turpentine c chard. 



on the face, is scraped off towards fall. and weight. (Reproduced from "Scientific Americ-.r.. 



In the turpentine orchard. 



