The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-11-26

WE'LL and the lower portion must hold
a quart. Like all the work done in
tllrpentine orchard, hiking is done by
the piece and by those who make g.
specially of it. The three classes of
worlSmen among turpentiners are dip
pers, clippers and boxers Each man
is especially expert at one or the other
of these, although those who have
worked long at the business and are.
somewhat enterprising are able to do
all three successfully. The boxing has
already been explained. The chipping
is cutting off a thin piece from the up
per part of the box, which soon sears
over, so that the gummy sap may
again flow freely The chipping is ac-
complished with peculiar curved
knife, with a blade about three inches
long on a, handle, to the end of which
is attached a heavy oblong bali.
Ordinarily a tree yields about a quart
of crude gum in a week, and it is the
duty of the dipper to remove this to
the barrels in which 1t is conveyed to
the still. 1t would naturally be sup
posed that this would be accomplished
with some sort of a dipper but it is
not. What Is used Is a broad, perfect
ly fiat paddle about twice the size of
those used by cooks iii turning pam
cakes. The dippers paddle, however, is
quite different in shape, being pointed
at the end. 1t is astonishing to see
with what dexterous skill the dippers
will remove the gum from the box
without losing a single drop with their
fiat paddles.
a cny aar1t az 1,n IrrY,av
timers is somewhat on the patriarchal
plan, and the free, easy, somewhat de-
pendent life is one which admirably
suits the average southern colored
man. In the group of little pine build
ings, which is known as the village Of
Turpentine Farm, is a store where such
articles as are likely to be demanded
are kept for sale, and the laborer can
have cash or goods in return for his Ia
Dor. Such a thing as working six days
in a week is unknown on turpentine
farm. The ordinary weeks work is
three days and half, the week, as far
as labor is concerned ending Friday
noon. Friday afternoon is a half-holl.
day that is religiously observed by the
workers in turpentine orchards. Sat
urday is devoted to getting ready for
Sunday, which is more often than 9TH
erwise occupied In the excitement Of
getting and keeping religion and in
wolves late hours and often the most
| violent exercise. Monday is required
to recover from the effects of all this,
and on Tuesday morning the turpen-
tine farm hands begin their weeks
work, which ends, as has been said,
Friday noon, for it is only under great
stress of urging that the turpentine
farm laborer can be induced to work
until Friday night.
The best and most ambitious workers
make seven dollars per week, and the
others less, but they are all perfectly
satisfied. They work keeping time to
song; the gentle temperature is no
more demanding than the sum of their
modest wants; the music of the wind
through the pines makes a balsam-
charged air vibrant above their beds of
pine boughs. They know no ills, and
are as happy and care-free as the
mocking-bird that trills above them as
| they work. While at the present time
there really is no employment that
suits the average colored laborer of the
south better than turpentine farming,
| the indications are that this will not
be true of the rising generation, who
| are evidencing the divine discomfort
that incites to unending effort, but, in
the meantime, their progenitors are
| joyfully content.
! While the light-hearted turpentine
workers are boxing, chipping and dip
| ping, and the experts at the still are
separating the residuum of the crude
gum, which Is resin, from the spirits
| that is the turpentine of commerce. the
/ unending discussion among those in
| terested in forestry Is going forward as
| to whether or not turpentining pima
tree Injuries 1t for lumber. There can
be no doubt that to continue to turpen-
tine a tree for term of years, say ten
! or fifteen, does make it well nigh use
| less for lumber, as the layers which
| surround the heart become soft and
spongy. For a shorter time, say three
| years, and it is during the first years
| that the best results are obtained, the
injury is scarcely perceptible. OF
| course, the tree does not continue to
| grow after it has been boxed, and there
is much more danger from fire after a
tract has been turpentined than before
but, aside from this, it is claimed that
pine forest is not deteriorated by be-
ing turpentined for a short time.-Flor-
ida Letter to the Chicago Tribune.