— n7 — 



remaining the same; so that at the end of the collecting period the 

 tapping area is about 26" long. In the course of the 4 following 

 periods of tapping the process is continued upwards in a similar manner 

 so that at the end of about 5 summers the tapping area has reached 

 a height of about 12 ft. At fixed distances throughout this height 

 cups are placed which are emptied once a fortnight and cleaned, 

 together with the strip of tin, the tapping area being also scratched off 

 from time to time. After about 4 years, when the first tapping-surface 

 has attained the height mentioned, a second cutting is begun at a 

 distance from the first of about one-third of the circumference of the 

 tree, and after 4 more years a third similar cutting is started. At the 

 end of the last-named period the tree is tapped again by the intro- 

 duction of fresh cutting surfaces in the neighourhood of the first, but 

 only one cutting may then be made every year. 



After 8 or more of these cuttings it is customary to fell the tree. 

 This considerate treatment (gemmage a vie) gives an annual yield of 

 from 3 to 5 lbs. of resin for every cutting area; while the exhausting 

 mode of tapping (gemmage a mort) in which several tapping areas 

 are made close together and are worked for 3 years only (after which 

 the tree is cut down) yields from 18 to 20 lbs. a year. 



The exports of resin and pitch from Bordeaux in 1908 amounted 

 to 39708 tons, this being an excess over 1907 of 8209 tons; the 

 exports to the United Kingdom amounted to 14247 tons, being an 

 excess of 4404 tons 1 ). 



With regard to the turpentine industry in the Departments of the 

 Charente, Gironde, Landes, and Lot -et- Garonne, it is stated to be 

 almost entirely in the hands of a few large proprietors of forests, who 

 also buy up the produce of the smaller owners. Recently, however, 

 Companies have been formed with foreign capital which work ac- 

 cording to patented methods and many proprietors and turpentine dealers 

 have also formed Co-operative Societies. These societies, however, have 

 hardly affected the fundamental character of the industry, which con- 

 sists in division by communes, each working on its own account. The 

 total number of the plants at work is estimated at 220, with an an- 

 nual output of about 220000 barrels of pitch and colophony of 

 about 7 arts each. The favourable condition of the turpentine in- 

 dustry in South - Western France is shown by the average prices of 

 resin, oil, and rosin in the years 1906 until 1908. 



The total exports from Bordeaux were as follows: — 

 1906 1907 1908 



Turpentine oil 8 737 tons 5 712 tons 3912 tons 



Resin, pitch etc. 28177 » 3*499 » 39 7°% >. 



*) Diplomatic and Consular Reports Nr. 4246, p. 16, 24, 35, June 1909. 



