138 Transactions. — Miscelkmeovs. 



A mature tree will yield from seven to eight pounds of turpentine yearly 

 for forty or fifty years. 



The turpentine is often found collected in small cavities in the larch, 

 exactly as in the New Zealand " red pine." 



In some cases the cavities are closed Avith a plug, and the turpentine 

 allowed to remain until it assumes a pasty condition, when it is removed 

 with an iron spoon. The yield is, of course, greatly reduced, but the dura- 

 bility of the timber is preserved. 



Turpentine from the larch was formerly known as "Venice turpentine." 



In some pines, as the silver fir, in which the wood is destitute of resin 

 ducts, the turpentine is contained in small cavities formed beneath the 

 bark. 



In the months of July, August, and September it is collected by Italian 

 peasants, who visit the alpine districts for that purpose. Each carries a 

 small sharp-pointed tin cone or flask, with which he punctures the bladders 

 in the bark and extracts the turpentine, which he pours into a tin bottle 

 carried at his belt. The loftiest trees are ascended by the aid of climbing- 

 irons, so that the work of collection is extremely laborious. The turpentine 

 is strained to free it from fragments of bark, leaves, and other impiirities, 

 when it is ready for sale. It is known in the market as " Strasburg turpen- 

 tine," and formerly commanded a high price. 



The barbarous plan of cutting boxes in the trees would not be adopted 

 in New Zealand, at any rate when it is desired to continue the process of 

 extraction for a lengthened period. Tin or zinc troughs or boxes could be 

 readily fixed to the trunk, or even sunk in the ground at its base, and the 

 turpentine conducted to them by grooves, or some other simple contrivance. 

 In this way even the kauri might be made to yield a supply of turpentine 

 for some years without material injury to its timber. 



Of course where a clearing is about to be made, and it is not thought 

 worthwhile to convert the timber, the object is simply to obtain the greatest 

 yield in the shortest time ; in this case incisions may be multiplied, and 

 cavities deepened without taking ulterior results into consideration. 



The amount of turpentine and resin which our native pines are capable 

 of yielding, involves several points of direct interest to the botanist, as well 

 as to the merchant and settler. I therefore venture to suggest to settlers in 

 forest districts, and especially to the proprietors of kauri and kahikatea 

 forests, the desirability of ascertaining the yield of the different species by 

 actual experiment, which might be commenced at once. In any case the 

 results would be of great value, and their publication would confer a boon 

 upon the community. The rate of flow should be carefully noted, and the 

 variations caused by changes in temperature observed. It would be ad- 



