MANILA COPAL. 181 



months and then has much the appearance of the naturally formed 

 mineral product. I can not explain the formation of resin not produced 

 by intentional wounding of stems or roots of living trees. 



Miquel 8 states that the resin of Dammara alba Lam. flows from the 

 stems and collects on the roots in large lumps which are often washed 

 away by streams and not infrequently are carried to the seashore in this 

 manner. I have never seen large masses of resin on the stems or roots 

 of an almaciga tree above the surface of the ground. Mr. Curran, of the 

 Philippine Bureau of Forestry, reports that he has seen large stalactitic 

 masses of hardened resin hanging from high, broken, or split branches of 

 this tree. A continuous exudation and subsequent falling of resin from 

 such a source offers a possible explanation for the occasional finding of 

 considerable masses of resin on or below the surface of the ground near 

 living trees. 



The theory has also been advanced that cracks in the roots may be 

 caused by the pressure of accumulated resin. It seems very unreasonable 

 to assume that the tree would as a physiologic process excrete a material 

 so rich in hydrocarbons, which must play an important role in its life 

 processes. On the other hand, it does seem very reasonable to believe 

 that an injury from whatever cause to the bark of branches, stems, 

 or roots is the true explanation of any deposits of a resinous nature 

 which may be found in the ground near the roots of living trees, [t 

 is very conceivable that the bark of the roots is sensitive to serious 

 attack from a number of sources, and it is undoubtedly true that the 

 sticky, water-resisting nature of coniferous exudations in general affords 

 a natural protection from the causes of vegetable deca} r . 



While present methods produce a limited quantity of very desirable 

 mineral resin, they are extremely primitive and not adapted to general 

 extension. The ground about the tree is first loosened with a bolo or 

 long heavy knife, and then scooped out with a coconut shell. When a 

 sack full, about 3 arrobas (34.5 kilos), of crude resin is secured, it is 

 carried down the mountains to the nearest seaeoast town where it may be 

 disposed of by sale or exchange. The uncertainty of the supply and the 

 laborious and time-consuming nature of the work, makes this method 

 of collecting mineral resin rather unprofitable and irregular. 



Occasionally, deposits of resins are found by digging out a decayed tree 

 stump or by prospecting small openings in the forest, where surface 

 indications suggest that one or more trees once stood. As for the pros- 

 pecting for resin where there are no surface indications of former forest 

 growth, I am inclined to think that it is seldom if ever practiced. There 

 are no denuded forest areas at the altitude of optimum development of the 

 Philippine almaciga tree, such as occur in New Zealand where the most 



s Flora van Nederlandsich Indie. Supplement (1862), 1, 80. 



