634 KESIX-TAPPIXO. 



inner cortical layers are left outside the Bapwood ; they then 

 present a smooth reddish surface. Ouly portions of the trunk 

 which are to he tapped during the ensuing season are thus 

 prepared. 



From the 1st to the 10th of March (according to the weather), 

 the resin-tapper makes an incision with a special implement in 

 the trunk of suitable trees. This is in the shape of a gi-oove 

 (earn) near the base of the tree and where the bark has alreadj* 

 been trimmed, about 10 centimeters wide, 3 centimeters high, 

 and 1 centimeter deep (4 inches by 1 inch by f inch). From 

 this groove the resin flows in viscous transparent drops, which 

 thicken on contact with the air : part of the resin thus solidifies, 

 becoming attached to the surface of the groove ; the remainder, 

 being more liquid, flows into a receptacle which has been placed 

 on the ground to receive it. Eain-water, which may fill the pots, 

 always remains above the resin, the specific gravity of which is 

 slightly higher than that of water. 



Once a week, and once every five days during the season when 

 most resin flows, the groove is freshly cut by slicing off" a thin 

 sha^^ng of the wood at its upper extremity. The groove thus 

 becomes gradually longer, its breadth remaining constant or 

 being gradually reduced. As the groove becomes older, the 

 resin ceases to flow ; in freshly cutting it, the resin-tapper 

 slices the surface of the top of the groove for a length of 10 to 

 12 centimeters (4 — 4f inches), his chief skill being shown in 

 removing only a very fine shaving of the sapwood, so that the 

 operation may be resumed several times without cutting deeper 

 than 1 centimeter. This operation is thus eff"ected forty to forty- 

 five times during a season, but ceases after the loth of October. 

 The groove is thus cut in successive years up to a height of 3 or 

 4 meters (9|— 13 feet). 



Formerly, the resin which ran from a groove was collected in 

 a hole dug in the sand at the foot of the tapped tree. This 

 method, which is now nearly everywhere abandoned, had many 

 disadvantages. The sand in which the hole was dug absorbed 

 much resin ; besides this, when the groove became elongated, 

 the resin had to traverse its whole length before reaching 

 the ground. In flowing over the groove, therefore, the resin 

 lost much volatile matter, and became hard ; while needles^ 



