, 1889-10-02
H BIRCH TREE.


|
And tho Various Useful Substances That
Are Derived from 1t
A casual glance at the surround
ings of any timber country, notably
along the creeks and ravines, reveals
the fact that at least some birch twigs
have withstood the onslaught of coun-
try pedagogues, who from time re-
mote have been identified with the le-
gend of birch oil and elbow grease
as an accelerator to the sluggish school
boy as he stumbles along over the OBJ
stacles on the side of Science hill.
Many twigs remain, and outside their
legendary historic value suggested in
the foregoing, the twigs and bark of
the common birch Betula alba) have
already an intrinsic value not second
to many of the most valuable plants.
Even the leaves and young shoots
secrete a resinous substance, having
an acid reaction, which, under the
long legged names of the pharmacist,
is sold as a medical preparation for as
high as SIG per fluid ounce. The in
ner bark secretes a bitterish alkaloid
not unlike cinchona in its nature, and
Is used largely a an adulterant for
quinine in many parts of Europe.
The SO called "Cinchona Mixture
has been found by analysis to consist,
in many instances, of the alkaloid
found in the inner bark of the humble
birch tree.
The outer bark, subjected to dry
distillation, yields a peculiar empty
reumatic oil having the peculiar odor
OF Russia leather, and the secret Of
preparing skins, and that, too, of the
very poorest quality of skins, being
taken from cattle that have persisted
on those barren, desolate plains, is the
only obstacle, thus far, to prevent
American artisans competing with
Russia and Austria in leather goods.
1t is not necessary, however, to go
into chemical t~echnicalities and de-
tails 10 arrive at a profitable solution
OF the uses of birch twigs and birch
bark, when the larger timber is being
cut away and hauled to the saw mill
or the turning lathe. When it is
stated that the oil of winter green
(Oleum gaultheria), so useful, fragrant
and expensive, is nearly always adul-
terated with birch oil; much of it is
birch oil pure and simple, but is sold
as wintergreen oil, and is wintergreen
oil to all intents and purposes, having,
when properly prepared and refined,
the same properties, viz, specific gray
ity, LIB; boiling point, Alp dogs,
and mixes readily with alcohol, chic
reform, etc.
The appliances necessary for the
preparation of this oil are neither in
tricate nor costly, being simply a large
tub supplied with a coil and steam con-
nection. Of course we are not expect
ed to go into all the details of manu-
facture. Only brief outlines can be
given.
The birch limbs, twigs, bark and
even the leaves, if a mere commercial
oil Is to be made, are gathered and
placed in this large tub containing the
coil for steam heating, and as fast as
the mass accumulaJes it is kept cover
ed with water, and the tub, being sup
piled with a tight fitting lid or man
hole, should be opened as little as pos
sible. After becoming nearly full,
steam is turned on, and the batch kept
about blood warm for twenty-four
hours. This will dissolve nearly all
the oil and resinous matters, which,
being preci plated, causes the mass to
assume a very sticky consistency.
Steam may now be turned on, and the
mass brought to a boil for a moment
or two. With a wooden connection,
with a small barrel or key, the tank is
made tight and brought to a boil; the
steam, having previously dissolved the
oils, etc, will now evaporize them and
will condense in the last named keg.
After a few hours the job is done, the
keg is bunged or corked up, and is
ready for shipment as commercial
w~intergreen oil, though made from
birch refuse continually in the way
New York Lumber Trade Journal.