MANUFACTURES, ETC. 203 



war, Butte County went into the production of those things 

 from the pitch of the Western Yellow Pine, (Pinus ponderosa) 

 which grows about Forbestown and Magalia, and in other 

 parts of the country, to large size and in great abundance. A 

 hole was cut in the side of the tree in the spring, and the semi- 

 fluid pitch which collected there was put into a retort and 

 distilled, the volatile portion passing oif in vapor, and after- 

 wards condensing into turpentine, while the solid matter re- 

 mained in the form of rosin. This industry was veiy active 

 for four or five years, but at last has ceased, as North Caro- 

 lina has again resumed her old industry, and can make rosin 

 and turpentine cheaper than we can. 



Some turpentine makers in Butte County tried to distill the 

 pitch of the nut pine, (Pinus sabiniana) and after some diffi- 

 culty succeeded, but found that the liquid produced was dif- 

 ferent from turpentine, being much lighter and possessing a 

 pleasant odor. An examination of it made by W. T. Wenzel, 

 chemist, showed that its specific gravity is only 0.694, while 

 that of turpentine is 0.840, and its boiling point differs 

 much from that of turpentine. It was first named erasine, 

 but druggists who have sought to convey the idea that they 

 had exclusive possession of it, have called it aurantine, theo- 

 line, abietine, and various other names. It is excellent for dis- 

 solving grease, and its vapors are fatal to moths. 



The manufacturers of erasine buy their pitch delivered at 

 $3.50 per 100 pounds the price being about twice as high as 

 that of the pitch from the common yellow pine trees. The 

 latter are larger and grow in denser forests, so that one man 

 can collect more in a day. The pitch -gatherer cuts a notch 

 eight or ten inches wide across the tree, and three or four 

 inches deep, with a depression that will hold the sap, which is 

 transferred once a month to a tin can. A tree two feet in 

 diameter will yield from three to four gallons the first year, 

 and more the second and third ; and forty gallons of the crude 

 pitch will, when distilled, give five gallons of erasine and 



