172 FOREST PRODUCTS 



streak, which is made by a sharp U-shaped blade made in three sizes 

 (usually about i in. across the curvature). The gash is about | to i| in. 

 in depth. Two cuts, forming a V at an angle of 90 to 100, form the 

 streak. Chipping continues through four seasons, at the end of which 

 a height of about 7 to 8 ft. is attained. Shallow chipping has been found 

 to yield better results and it is said that a depth of ^ in. is the best. 

 Narrow chipping, around | in. in width, is also best. The present 

 method is about i in. or more. This reduces the length of time the 

 tree can be tapped. It is possible to improve the present methods 

 vastly. An experienced laborer will chip from 8000 to 10,500 faces per 

 week. 



Dipping. 



Dipping consists of removing the resin or gum from the box. A 

 dipper with a long-handled, trowel-shaped blade is used. The gum is 

 emptied into a small wooden bucket which the worker carries from tree 

 to tree. Dipping is done every three to five weeks, depending upon the 

 season and condition of the trees. Operators generally estimated that 

 dipping is done from seven to eight times a season. Resin barrels, 

 placed at convenient points through the drifts by a wagon, are used for 

 collecting the gum as the buckets are filled. As these barrels are filled 

 they are taken directly by wagon to the turpentine stills. One still will 

 take care of the products of from 20 to 25 crops of 10,500 boxes each. 



Scraping. 



Owing to the gummy and sticky nature of the resin, considerable 

 quantities of it adhere to the face and never reach the box at the base of 

 the tree. Obviously, this condition is enhanced the higher the chipping 

 occurs up the tree. Cold weather also affects it. This gum is scraped 

 from the face at the end of each season by means of special tools called 

 11 scrapers " and it is caught at the base of the tree in a wooden receptacle 

 called a " scrape box." The " scrape " yields very inferior products 

 compared to the " dip." It is estimated that only 45 to 60 per cent of 

 the normal quantity of turpentine is secured from the scrape and it 

 produces a rosin of dark color and consequently of low grade. It gen- 

 erally contains many impurities, such as pieces of wood, leaves, twigs, 

 bark, bugs, etc. 



After the turpentine season is over the ground about the base of each 

 tree is raked over for a distance of 3 to 4 or more feet to guard against 

 fires. Inflammable material such as pine needles, particles of gum, sticks, 



