34 BULLETIN 229, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of the face beyond the prescribed limits. An instrument devised by 

 Demorlaine in 1898, called the "facemeter" (quarrimetre), permits 

 of a ready and accurate measurement of the face. 



SYSTEMS OF TURPENTINING. 



Two systems of turpentining are employed, "gemmage a vie" and 

 "gemmage a mort." "Gemmage a vie" is the system used when the 

 tree is to be moderately turpentined for a long period of years; 

 "gemmage a mort" when the trees marked for thinning or final felling 

 are to be made to yield the greatest possible amount of resin in five 

 years without actually being killed. 



The following articles are taken from the turpentining specifications 

 issued by the French Government in 1909: 



Gemmage a vie. — The tapping will take place on either one or two faces, according 

 to the indications of the Service des Eaux et Forets. Only those trees can be tapped 

 with two faces which have been designated for this puipose. 



The faces will be started above the swelling of the root and raised either vertically 

 or in accordance with the grain of the wood. 



If the tapping period is for five years, the face can be raised 0.60 m. (24 inches) 

 during the first year and 0.65 m. (26 inches) during the following years in such a 

 manner that the total height does not exceed 3.2 m. (10 feet 6 inches). 



If the tapping period is for four years the face can be raised 0.60 m. (24 inches) 

 during the first year; 0.65 m. (26 inches) during the second; 0.85 (33 inches) during 

 the third, and 1 m. (3 feet 3 inches), in such a manner that the total height does not 

 exceed 3.1 m. (10 feet 2 inches). 



In every case the width of the faces should not exceed 0.09 m. (3.5 inches) the first 

 year, 0.08 m. (3.1 inches) the second, 0.07 m. (2.8 inches) the third, and 0.06 m. (2.4 

 inches) at the beginning of the fourth. 



The decrease in width should take place progressively in such a manner that the 

 width of the face at the end of one year shall be that at the beginning of the year 

 following. 



The depth should not exceed 0.01 m. (0.4 inch), the measure being taken under 

 a coi'd stretched from one border of the face to the other, at the beginning of the red 

 part of the bark. 



The tapping will take place according to the directions of the Service des Eaux et 

 Forets; either by fours (au quart), the faces up to the fourth inclusive being made, 

 as far as possible, two by two at the extremities of the same diameter; or by threes 

 (au tiers), the faces up to the third inclusive being made by dividing the circum- 

 ference of the tree into three nearly equal parts; the second should be opened at the 

 right of the first when facing the latter. 



In case of the absence of directions in the contract the tapping will be done by 

 fours. 



Gemmage a mort. — If the trees to be tapped d mort form part of the sale or are aban- 

 doned to the lessors, the latter can work them as they think best. 



In the contrary case the lessors should not tap them in a manner to diminish the 

 value which they should have as fuel and structural timber. The dimensions of 

 the face should be such that its whole area never exceeds the limits of an ordinary face. 



The tapping operation will be confined between March 1 and October 31 of each 

 year, but the contractor can commence to bark the pines which are to be tapped and 

 place the gutters February 1. 



He can also collect the scrape up to December 1 of each year of the tapping period, 

 except the last year, when this operation should be ended the 15th of November. 



