NOTES ON THE TAPPING OF THE CLUSTER PINE. 263 



uses. Spirits of turpentine are employed in medicine , 

 in the preparation of varnishes and paints, for light- 

 ing, for cleaning furniture, &c. The solid products 

 enter into the manufacture of paper, soap, stearin 

 candles, torches, sealing-wax, &c., and are also used 

 for the calking of vessels. 



The residue from the first filtration of the crude 

 resin is burnt in special stoves, and yields tar and 

 pitch. 



One barrique of crude resin gives 100 kilos, of 

 spirits of turpentine, which, taking actual prices, 

 would be worth about 125 francs ; the other products 

 cover all expenses and yield besides a trifling profit. 

 Black rosin sells at the rate of eighteen francs per 

 hundred kilogrammes ; the price of the same weight 

 of white rosin is twenty francs. 



In another establishment in the same town, the 

 black rosin is heated to a high temperature, by 

 w r hich a double decomposition takes place. The 

 result is, according to the manipulations employed, 

 the separation of certain volatile oils used in var- 

 nishes, or of certain fixed oils which are used for 

 lighting, for making wheel-grease, for impregnating 

 wood, in the manufacture of printing-ink, &c. 



Such are the products which have hitherto given 

 their chief value to forests of the Cluster Pine. 



Nevertheless, in those districts where means of 

 transport exist, the timber acquires a certain value. 

 Opinions are still divided as to which trees yield the 

 best timber, those that have been tapped for resin, 

 or those left to themselves. It may be observed 

 that the process of tapping produces an outward 



