The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-03-17
NEW FOREST SAVING.
GOVERNMENT SERVICE IN THE
TURPENTINE INDUSTRY.
Introduction of Cup and Gutter Pro-
ductive of Good Results
Object of the ExpeI-
meHts.

The recent experiments of the for.
est service, designed to conserve the
life Of turpentine trees, gives promise
of remarkable success. It is believed
thai 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
it's adoption on a large scale by south
ern ~tnrpentine producers. What lends
this system its great value is the fact
that it does away with the old prac-
tice CT boxing" which consists in
cutting a deep cavity or "boX'' at the
bass 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. a saving of the deep, fatal wound
in the base of the tree, and conse-
quently a conservation of it's 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 believed, 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
n gutter system, was therefore
sought in the new plan. This aimed
to rcduc the size and number of
races Clipped, and also the depth Of
the chipping, without diminishing the
flow OF 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
and shorter faces" The
success of these experiments has ten.
tatively established the p%racticability
ot this plan. A great saving naturally
results, for by reducing the depth and
me superficial extent of the wound the
Trail on the vitality of the tree is re-
1uced, and at least an equal yield is
secured without d~iscounting the prod
let OF future years. Under the old
system he annual yield gradually
-alls eff, largely in consequence of the
of "dry-face," which is a
kind of local death, affecting the ex-
posed wood of the tree.
1t Is highly probable that with this
in the severity of the op-
'ration the ordinary term of three OF
our years during which a forest Is
low worked can be greatly increased.
This means not only a larger total re-
urn and consequently larger profits.
tut also that the investment period
or turpentining capital is heightened,
fact which especially appeals to the
INVESTOR.
The experiments are being conducted
n cooperation with the Hillman-
'utborland Land company, which last
ear placed four crops Of trees, of
bout 5000 trees each, at the disposal
f The forest service, and for the sea-.
on Of 1906 has consented to supply
till more timber to further the study.