ADMINISTRATION 113 



atory in the distillation of the needles of coniferous 

 trees and the distillation of the crude gum of some 

 of the important timber trees of the South and 

 West. The oils distilled from many trees in this 

 way have found great use for various purposes. 

 Shoeblacking owes its peculiar aromatic odor, 

 faintly suggestive of the deep spruce and hemlock 

 woods, to an oil which is distilled from these same 

 kind of needles. Evergreen tree leaf oils are used 

 for the perfume of soap, and in the manufacture of 

 liniments, insecticides, and medicinal preparations. 



Investigations have been carried on at the Forest 

 Products Laboratory in making artificial silk from 

 sawdust. The industry has already attained con- 

 siderable proportions. It consists principally of 

 converting cellulose into viscose, which, in turn, is 

 manufactured into an almost endless number and 

 variety of silk and other goods varying from sau- 

 sage casings to silk hose and tapestries. Sawdust 

 is used also in the manufacture of inlaid linoleum 

 and dynamite. 



Experiments in naval stores are attempting to 

 improve the old methods of harvesting turpentine, 

 which have proven very destructive to the forests. 

 With the approaching exhaustion of the Southern 



