FINUS PINASTER. 



369 



ing the least tendency to bend before the prevail- 

 ing wind, and never having its outer branches 

 blighted. 



The common resin of commerce is extracted 

 from the Pinaster while it is in a growing state. 

 In summer, trees are selected which have a trunk 

 about four feet in diameter, and longitudinal cuts 

 are made through the bark, about six inches wide 

 and a foot long, with a cavity at the base. Into 

 this the resin flows from between the bark and the 

 wood, and is scooped out occasionally with a ladle. 

 It is found necessary to lengthen the cut very fre- 

 quently, as the resin does not flow freely from an 

 old wound. In a few years the tops of the 

 grooves are too high to be reached by a man 

 standing on the ground ; the operator therefore 

 climbs the tree by the help of a notched pole, 

 and v/hen the trees have ceased to produce resin, 

 they are cut down to be manufactured into tar. 

 The resin is melted in caldrons, and strained 

 through straw to free it from impurities ; it is 

 then stored away in barrels and is fit for the 

 market. 



To make the best lamp-black, the straw through 

 which resin has been strained is put into a stove 

 and kindled : the smoke passes through a chimney 

 into a chamber which has an opening in the roof ; 

 over the opening is placed a flannel bag, sup- 

 ported by wooden rods in the form of a pyramid. 

 The soot is deposited either on the w^alls of the 

 chamber or on the flannel bag, — the flannel acting 

 as a fllter to the lighter part of the smoke, by 

 retaining the soot and allowing the heated air to 

 escape. The soot is detached from the flannel bag 

 by striking the outside smartly with a stick; and, 



II. B B 



