Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-05-31
NEW FOREST SAVING.
GOVERNMENT SERVICE IN THE
TURPENTINE INDUSTRY.
Introduction of Cup and Gutter Pro-
ductive of Good Results
Object of the Expert
ments.
rnents.

est service, designed 10 conserve the
life of turpentine trees, gives promise
OF remarkable success. 1t is believed
tina. the improvements tested in these
experiments will, in addition TO pro-
longing the life of the trees, greatly
increase their total yield of turpen-
tine.
When the cup and gutter system Of
turpentining was introduced by the
forest service some three years ago.
the economy which it secured led TO
its adoption on large scale by south
ern turpentine producers. What lends
this system its great value is the fact
that IL does away with the old prac-
tice CT boxing" which consists in
cutting a deep cavity or box" at the
base of the tree for the purpose of
catching and holding the resin which
flows from the Clipped face" OF the
tree trunk above. In place Of the
box" an earthenware cup, of the
same capacity, is fastened to the tree.
To this the flowing resin is directed by
means of metal cutters. The disuse of
the box" effected a two-fold gain
first, saving of the deep, fatal wound
in the base of the tree, and conse-
quently a conservation of its vitality;
and second, much less waste in the
gathering of the product, with a
greater yield of turpentine and better
grades of resin.
While this decided Improvement
spared the tree very considerably, the
method of chipping faces" to stimu
late resin flow remained unchanged.
This in itself necessitates a deep
wound, which, it is yelieved, exhausts
thes vitality of the tree more than is
necessary. Exhaustion is evident from
the fact that after the first year the
yield quickly falls OFF, and the total
productive period is also limited. A
further step in advance, to supplement
the gains already secured by the cup
anu gutter system, was therefore
sought ia the new plan. This aimed
to reduce the size and number of
faces" Clipped, and also the depth of
the chipping, without diminishing the
flow oil resin.
In the experiments carried out dur
ing the past season the first object
was to show that at least an equal
flow of resin can be secured from
shallower and shorter faces" The
success of these experiments has ten
tatively established the practicability
IT this plan. A great saving naturally
results, for by reducing the depth and
the superficial extent of the wound the
drail on the vitality of the tree is re-
duced, and at least an equal yield is
secured without discounting the prod
uct of future years. Under the old
system the annual yield gradually
falls eff, largely in consequence of the
lOTHdllOu VI iy-ldCct WhiCh 10
kind of local death, affecting the ex-
posed wood Of the tree.
1t is highly probable that with this
diminution in the severity of the OPP
Grafton the ordinary term of three or
four years during which forest is
now worked can be greatly increased.
This means not only larger total re-
turn and consequently larger profits,
but also that the investment period
for turpentining capital is heightened.
a fac. which especially appeals to the
investor.
Tho experiments are being conducted
in cooperation with the Hillman-
Sutherland Land company, which last
year placed four crops of trees, of
about 5000 trees each, at the disposal
of the forest service, and for the sea-
son Of 1906 has consented to supply
still more timber to further the study.