16 
Indian Forest Records, 
[Vol. VI 
suggestions for improving the Burmese lacquer industry which are 
given below 
(i) The iron chisels used for the extraction of the varnish should be 
free from rust, as rust spoils the varnish by its action on the 
urushic acid. 
(ii) Dust should be avoided. 
(in) The juice extracted from the lower parts of the Japanese tree 
is known to be superior to that obtained from the upper part ; 
the author recommends that this be followed in Burma. 
(iv) The juice should be stirred for some hours in open, shallow 
vessels with a flat paddle, as is done by the Japanese lacquerer, 
the varnish so becoming of a more homogeneous nature and 
any poisonous volatile matter being evaporated. 
(v) Iron vessels should be scrupulously avoided in making lacquer 
of various colours, as the rust from the iron vessels, by com¬ 
bination with urushic acid, makes the colour of the varnish a 
dull brown. 
(vi) The air of underground cellars, where the lacquered articles are 
put to dry, should be kept moist by hanging wet cloths from 
the walls and roof. 
(vii) Sesamum oil should be avoided as an adulterant and linseed 
oil should be used. 
During the year (1913), the writer has been carrying out a number of 
experiments, with a view to improving the drying capacity of this natural 
varnish, and so render it more adaptable to the lacquer industry and 
possibly increase its utility in other directions. 
With this end in view, 19 samples of thitsi, prepared in the manner 
shown in the table below, were sent to a local firm of cabinet-makers 
and their report as to whether they would be able to use any of the same 
in their work is incorporated in the remarks column. Two coats of 
varnish of each sample were applied to both a hard and a soft wood, and 
the rapidity in drying was recorded every 24 hours. It should be men¬ 
tioned that the articles so varnished were left to dry indoors under 
usual conditions, and the weather at the time was fairly dry during a 
break in the rains. 
After the firm had pronounced their opinion, all the specimens of 
the varnished woods were placed, for 3 weeks, out in the sun on a con¬ 
crete floor, in order to test their durability under the ordinary weather 
conditions. 
£ U2 ] 
