55 
Part I.] Puran Singh : Turpentine Oil and Indian Rosin. 
old oil, as noted previously, contains oxygen, which it has absorbed 
from the air and which it holds in a very loose combination; it is 
this oxygen which helps the varnishes to dry quickly. The old oil 
is further known to give better body and greater brilliancy tc the 
varnishes, but it must be remembered that the increase in its quality 
of drying and imparting brilliancy is more than counterbalanced 
by the decrease in hardness and durability (vide Spon’s En¬ 
cyclopedia, Yol. II, page 2226). 
It is evident that the imported oils are always older than the 
Indian oil, which as soon as it is distilled is sold to the consumer, 
and this fact must be taken into account when passing judgment 
on the drying quality of the Indian oil as compared with that 
of the imported oils. There is no doubt that the turpentine which 
has been so far produced has rightly given cause for complaints as 
regards its drying quality, but as regards the Bhowali redistilled 
turpentine oil, consumers and buyers are strongly recommended 
to judge it on its own merits and test its drying capacity by making 
experiment before they condemn it. 
Opportunity may be taken here of strongly recommending to 
the Forest Department that Indian turpentine oil of extra fine 
quality should be manufactured by the departmental factories at 
Bhowali and Kalsi, the operation of redistillation being conducted 
in separate stills. This will entail no additional labour, for the 
men in charge of the distillation at present can very well control 
the process of redistillation. This step would go a great way 
towards giving an impetus to this important industry and the 
Indian oil would gain a reputation for itself. 
APPENDIX B. 
A Report on the Quality of the Turpentine Oil as required by 
Railways. 
(Written for the Forest Research Institute by Puran Singh, Forest Chemist.) 
Mr. Smythies, Divisional Forest Officer, Naini Tal, has been 
corresponding for some time past with the Chief Store-keeper, 
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