MARITIME PINE. 



641 



to remain for some time standing in a wood. They must be so 

 tapped that their existence is not compromised, nor their vigour 

 seriously diminished. It is therefore best, in this case, to make 

 only one groove in a tree at a time. When, after five years, this 



Cross-section of a pine wliicli has been repeatedly tapped "alive." 



1. Groove cut when 19 years old. 5. Groove cut when 34 years old. 



2. „ 22 ,, 6. ,, 38 



3. „ 27 „ 7. ,, 42 



4. ,, 31 ,, 8. ,, 46 



The last gi'oove still in u.se. 



groove is 3 meters 80 centimeters (about 12^ feet) high, it is left 

 untapped for several years, and then another groove commenced 

 at 15 or 20 centimeters (5 to 6 inches) distant from the former, 

 or on the other side of the tree exactly opposite to it. Thus, 

 in time, grooves are made all round a tree, and fresh ones are 

 then made between them. By this procedure, resin is extracted 

 whilst the pines are kept alive for a long period (figs. 289, 290).* 



* In fig. 288 an old pine is shewn with a swollen base, and more than 50 

 grooves, it is probably at least 200 years old. 



