248 
North  American  Coniferce. 
\m.  Jour.  Pharm. 
May,  18S6. 
every  month.  The  flow  of  resin  is  most  abundant  during  June,  July 
and  August,  decreasing  as  the  cooler  weather  approaches. 
The  resin  which  accumulates  in  the  boxes  the  first  season  is  known 
as  virgin  dip,  and  is  removed  by  a  flat  dipper  to  barrels  for  trans- 
portation to  the  still.  On  an  average,  seven  dippings  or  collections 
are  made  the  first  season  of  about  thirty-two  weeks.  About  40 
barrels  of  crude  resin  (soft  gum)  is  obtained  from  10,000  boxes  at 
each  dip-ping.  The  net  weight  per  barrel  is  about  240  pounds.  As 
the  flow  of  resin  diminishes  it  hardens  on  the  surface;  this  is  then 
removed  with  the  scraper  from  the  face  of  the  tree.  The  product 
is  known  as  scrape  or  hard  turpentine,  and  it  is  decidedly  of  inferior 
quality  to  the  dip.  It  is  of  a  dingy  white  color,  contains  particles  of 
wood,  bark  and  dust,  and  yields  only  about  half  the  volatile  oil 
obtained  from  the  dip. 
In  the  first  season  the  average  yield  from  10,000  trees  of  dip 
amounts  to  280  barrels,  and  of  scrape  to  70  barrels.  The  former 
yields  6^  gallons  of  spirit  of  turpentine  to  the  barrel  of  240  pounds 
net,  and  the  latter  3  gallons  to  the  barrel,  resulting  in  the  production 
of  2,000  to  2,100  gallons  of  spirit  of  turpentine,  and  260  barrels  of 
rosin  of  the  higher  and  highest  grades. 
In  the  second  year  from  five  to  six  dippings  are  made,  the  crop 
averaging  225  barrels  of  soft  turpentine,  while  the  scrape  is  increased 
to  120  barrels,  making  altogether  about  2,000  gallons  of  spirit  and 
200  barrels  of  rosin  ;  the  latter  is  of  a  lighter  or  deeper  amber  color, 
perfectly  transparent  and  of  medium  quality. 
In  the  third  and  fourth  years  the  number  of  dippings  is  reduced 
to  three  each.  The  freshly  hacked  surface  is  so  much  higher,  caus- 
ing the  resin  to  flow  over  so  much  more  surface,  that  comparatively 
little  reaches  the  boxes.  In  the  third  season  the  dip  amounts  to 
120  barrels,  and  the  scrape  to  100  barrels,  yielding  about  1,100  gal- 
lons of  spirit  and  100  barrels  of  rosin  of  a  more  or  less  dark  brown 
color,  and  not  quite  transparent. 
In  the  fourth  and  last  year  the  yield  of  dip  is  somewhat  less  than 
that  of  the  previous  year,  while  the  scrape  remains  about  the  same, 
100  barrels,  yielding  in  all  about  800  gallons  of  spirit  and  100  bar- 
rels of  the  lowest  grade  of  rosin,  which  is  opaque,  heavy  and  of  a 
deep  brown,  almost  black,  color. 
Owing  to  the  reduction  in  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  raw 
product,  it  is  not  considered  profitable  by  the  larger  operators  to 
