THE TECHNOLOGIST. 
THE SUPPLY OF RESIN. 
We drew attention in a former number, (vol. 5, p. 370) to the declining 
supplies of turpentine and resin, and stated that the Secretary of State 
for the Colonies had circularised the colonial governors with the view of 
if possible stimulating production in new sources. We have now before 
us a valuable series of reports from our consuls in foreign countries on 
the quantity, quality, and value of the resin produced within their con- 
sular districts, from which we are able to quote much new and interest- 
ing information. It is, however, satisfactory to notice that the supplies 
are beginning to increase to the satisfaction of manufacturers in various 
branches of trade. The imports have been in : — 
Turpentine. 
Eesin. 
1864 
353,824 
52,968 cwt. 
1865 (7 months) . 
193,181 
20,175 „ 
Austria. — Mr. Acting-Consul General Valentine, Venice, reports 
that a considerable quantity of turpentine, or of the resinous matter 
from which resin or colophony is extracted, might be obtained from the 
extensive forests of the Tyrol and Friuli, which abound with firs, larch, 
and other resinous trees, were not the tapping of the trees prohibited by 
the forest laws, to prevent injury to the growth and perfect quality of 
the timber. 
Should, however, the present profitable prices offered for resin con- 
tinue, affording full compensation for the deterioration of the quality of 
the timber, there is no doubt that the production of resin would be very 
greatly increased. 
Previous to the war in America the production of resin in the Tyrol 
was limited to the requirements of the local trade ; but since then the 
scarcity and consequent high prices of colophony have caused greater 
attention to be paid to the cultivation of this resource of the country, 
and the turpentine to be collected and purified to an increasing extent, 
not only for the use of the immediate neighbourhood, but also for the 
vol. vi. K 
