306 
Indian Forest Records. 
[VOL. I. 
Burmese natural varnish is urushic acid, which amounts to about 
85 per cent, in the pure unadulterated specimens ; and that this 
and other chief constituents of the varnish are identical in all 
essential characteristics with those of the Japanese lacquer; and 
finally that the principle involved in and the conditions essential 
for the hardening of the varnish paint are identical in the processes 
of lacquering with the Burmese and Japanese varnishes. 
With a view to improving the lacquer industry of Burma the 
author makes the following recommendations : — 
1. The iron chisels used for the extraction of the varnish should 
be perfectly clean and free from rust, as rust spoils the varnish by 
its action on Urushic acid. 
2. In extracting the varnish care should be taken that it does 
not become contaminated with dust and other impurities, as the 
presence of the latter tends to prevent the uniform setting of the 
varnish during the hardening process, and besides gives to the final 
dried paint a dull appearance. 
3. The juice extracted from the lower parts of the Japanese 
lacquer tree is known to be superior to that obtained from the 
upper part. The Japanese on this account collect the juice from 
the lower parts separately, and use it only for the final coatings of 
the lacquer ware. The same practice is recommended to be followed 
in collecting the Burmese varnish. 
When it is desired to fell a tree, its branches can also be utilised 
for extracting a poor quality of the juice according to the method 
followed in Japan, viz., the branches are bound together and put 
in hot water with about ^ of their lengths out of the water. Inci- 
sions are then made in different places in the outlying parts of the 
branches, and the juice, which flows out by the aid of the heated 
water, is collected. The parts of the branches previously in water 
are finally treated similarly by turning the faggots and putting 
their exhausted parts in the heated water. The inferior juice thus 
obtained, mixed with bone ashes or other suitable material will be 
more advantageously utilized for ground work than the supposed 
inferior qualities of thitsi which are at present employed for the 
purpose. 
4. The juice before storing should be thoroughly and cofitinu- 
ously stirred for some hours in open shallow vessels with a flat 
paddle, as is done by the Japanese lacquerer. By this treatment 
