inquiry we learned that there is a con- 

 stant demand for spruce gum, but an in- 

 sufficient supply since few make a busi- 

 ness of collecting it. It appears that a 

 few pounds of clarified spruce gum and 

 an equal quantity of "chicle" from South 

 America are mixed with a carload of 

 paraffine wax and some flavoring extract, 

 the result being the "chewing gum" of 

 commerce which is distributed by the 

 one-cent slot machines, and furnishes 

 exercise for the jaw muscles of the rising 

 generation. It has been estimated that 

 more than five million dollars are ex- 

 pended for chewing gum in the United 

 States every year. 



It also is possible to chew pure spruce 

 gum, just as it is broken from the tree 

 trunk. I have tried it. In this operation 

 one must "watch his step" to avoid lock- 

 jaw. At least, caution must be exercised 

 until the quid is well "started." I under- 

 stand that in some places it is possible, 

 at an increased cost, to buy spruce gum 

 that has been "started." 



28 



