CHAP, cxiii. coni'fer^e. Pl^NUS. 2221 



tween that city and Bayonne, which are there called pignadas, constitute 

 the principal riches of the inhabitants, who are almost entirely supported by 

 the preparation of resin and tar from the pinaster forests. 



Properties and Uses. Though the wood of the pinaster is soft, and not of 

 long duration, it is employed, in the marine arsenal at Toulon, for the outer 

 cases of all the packages which are put on board vessels, and principally for 

 the piles and props which are used for sustaining the frames of vessels while 

 they are being constructed. In Bordeaux and in Provence, it is employed 

 for the common kinds of carpentry, for packing-boxes, and for fuel; but 

 the most valuable purposes to which the tree is applied in these countries is 

 the production of resin, tar, and lampblack. 



Mode of procu?ing the resinous Products of the Pinaster. These are obtained 

 chiefly in the province of Guienne, from the trees which grow on the immense 

 tract of sandy soil extending along the sea coast from Bayonne to Medoc in 

 one direction, and from the sea to the borders of the river Garonne in the 

 other. When the trees have attained the age of from 25 to 30 years, with 

 trunks about 4 ft. in circumference, they are thought to have acquired suffi- 

 cient strength to bear the extraction of their sap. The resinier (which is the 

 name given to the person who collects the resin) usually tests the tree, by 

 putting his arm round it, and if the trunk is so thick that he cannot see his 

 fingers on the other side, he considers the tree of sufficient size for him to com- 

 mence his operations. This he does by first stripping off a piece of the outer 

 bark from a space of about 4 in. or 6 in. wide, and from 12 in. to 18in.4ong. 

 A hollow is then cut in the lower part of the trunk, with a hatchet slightly 

 curved like a bill-hook, in such a manner as to retain the fluid resin to the 

 extent of about half a pint ; or a small trough is attached to the bottom of the 

 channel formed by the removal of the bark. From this reservoir, in a direction 

 upwards, and over the space from which the outer bark was removed, the wood 

 is laid bare to the length of 6 in., and to the width of 4 in., and the resin 

 oozes out from between the bark and the wood, and runs into the reser- 

 voir, from which it is taken with wooden or iron ladles, or is conducted by the 

 trough to a vessel proper to receive it. Every week, the person employed to 

 perform the operation has occasion to reopen the wound, and slightly in- 

 crease its height and breadth, without, however, ever exceeding 18 in. in 

 length in the course of the season. These successive cuts are requisite, 

 because the resinous matter flows more freely from new wounds than 

 old ones ; but, as the slightest touch is found sufficient, the operator should 

 be careful not to injure the tree more than is necessary. This work re- 

 quires activity, as one man is generally expected to be able to manage 

 from 1500 to 2000 trees ; and the operation is continued on the same tree 

 by annually removing a portion of the bark, till the part laid bare is 

 from 12 ft. to 15 ft. in height ; which takes place, commonly, in 7 or 8 

 years. At that time, a fresh channel is commenced, so close to the pre- 

 ceding cut, as to leave only an inch or two of bark between them, and 

 it is conducted gradually to the same height as the other. After this, 

 other channels are successively cut, till the operator has completely en- 

 circled the tree; by which time, the first wounds are so well healed as 

 to be ready to be cut again, if the operator has done his work properly. 

 When the trees are to be thinned, those destined to be removed are cut into 

 numerous channels all round the tree at once, and three times the height of 

 those usually made, and this is continued for two or three years together ; 

 after which the trees are cut down and burned, to extract their tar. This 

 operation is called tailler a pin perdu. When the wound is above the height 

 of a man, the operator makes use of a pole cut with slanting notches to re- 

 ceive his feet ; by the aid of which he climbs up the tree with great dexterity. 

 When arrived at the necessary height, he twists his left leg round the pole 

 and the tree, thus holding them firmly together, and then resting his right 

 foot in one of the notches, he uses both his hands to cut the tree, as before 



