MARITIME PINE. 



643 



the remaining area (4,500 acres) is worked chiefly for resin. It is 

 divided into 12 compartments, averaging 375 acres each, which are 

 regenerated successively when from 55 to 60 years old, there being 

 then from 80 to 100 trees per acre which are all tapped to death in 

 the course of five years. The trees in a compartment 55 years old 

 are for this purpose sold standing and must be felled within the five 

 years, being meanwhile made to yield all their available resin. The 

 undergrowth of pine seedlings, tree-heather {Erica arhorea), arbutus, 

 gorse, ifec, is then cleared awaj^, and the area sown naturally by 

 seed which blows on it from adjoining areas, artificial sowing being 

 eifected, if necessary, to complete the regeneration. 



Thinnings are commenced when the saplings are about five years 

 old, maritime pine requiring more exposure to light than almost any 

 species, especially if it is to yield resin as well as timber. These 

 thinnings are repeated every five years, the trees being about 10 

 feet apart when 20 years old ; the material is not saleable in the 

 Forest of Teste till it is 30 years old, being often given away gratis 

 for fuel, or left to rot on the area, which it does rapidly. In older 

 thinnings, trees over 1 meter 10 centimeters (3| feet) in girth which 

 are to be removed are tapped to death in five years, whilst the other 

 trees over this girth are tapped alive, as already described. Trees of 

 less girth are not tapped. 



A workman and his wife * can fill 60 casks of crude resin (each 

 containing 50 gallons) from 5,000 to 6,000 grooves, representing 

 double the number of trees ; half the value of the resin collected 

 (about 900 francs = £36) is paid him in return for his labour. One 

 groove yields 2^- quarts in a year. 



The estimated t outturn per acre of the fellings sold in 18D-1 

 was : — 



Final felling... 

 Last thinning 



The timber is mainly cut into railway-sleepers and pit-props, 

 which latter are chiefly exported to England. 



* ^I. GranJjean has kindly supplied the following figures : («) A groove on 

 the average, according to the size of the tree, yields 1 kilo. 880 gr. (1 liter 

 weighing about 1 kilo.) ; (6) A man can look after about 5,000 grooves in a 

 season and collect 40 casks of 235 liters each. 



+ From account by N. Hearle, Indian Forester, July, 1895. 



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