OFFOREST-TREES. 131
made of the Pitch-tree , and have lasted from Anno 336 , down to ourCHAP. III.Days, above one Thousand three Hundred Years. .
13. But now whilst I am reciting the Uses of these beneficial Trees, SetPih. Nat.Mr. Wint horp presents the Royal Society with the ‘Process of makings ^ b ^ v ‘‘the Tar and Pitch in New-England, which we thus abbreviate. Tar nX, s eo .is made out of that Sort of Pine-tree, from which naturally Turpen-P^st^Wtine extilleth ; and which at its first flowing out, is liquid and clearq ^ L ib.
but being hardened by the Air, either on the Tree, or wherever it«v-.cap.xx.falls, is not much unlike the the Burgundy Pitch ; and we call themPitch-pines out of which this gummy Substance transudes : They growxxiv.c'ap. vi.upon the most barren Plains , on Rocks also, and Hills rising amongstthose Plains , where several are found blown down, and have lain somany Ages, as that the whole Bodies, Branches and Roots of the Treesbeing perished, some certain Knots only ol the Boughs have been leftremaining intirc (these Knots are that Part where the Bough is joined tothe Body of the Tree) lying at the lame Distance and Posture as theygrew upon the Tree for its whole Length. The Bodies ot Ionic ofthese Trees are not corrupted through Age, but quite consumed, andreduced to Asties, by the annual Burnings of the Indians , when theylet ther Grounds on Fire ; which yet has, it ieerns, no Power overthese hard Knots, beyond a black ^Scorching ; although being laid onHeaps, they are apt enough to burn. It is ot these Knots they maketheir Tar in New-England, and the Country adjacent, whilst they arewell impregnated with that terebinthine and Matter,which.like a
Balsam, preserves them lo long from Putrefaction. The rest of the Treedoes indeed certain the like terebinthine Sap, as appears (upon any flightIncision ol lark on the Stem or Boughs) by a small crystalline Learl,winch will sweat out; but this, for being more watery and undigested,by Reason os the Porosity of the Wood, which exposes it to the Im-pressions of the Air and Wet, renders the Tree more obnoxious, es-pecially if it |je prostrate with the Bark on, which is a Receptacle fora certain intercutaneous Worm, that accelerates its Decay. They arethe Knots then alone, which the Tar-makers amass in Heaps, carry-ing them in Carts to some convenient Place not far off, where, findingHay or Foam fit for their Turn, they lay an Hearth of stich ordi-nary Stone as they have at Hand : This they build to such an Heightfrom the Level of the Ground, that a Veffel may stand a little R>werthan the Hearth, to receive the Tar as it runs out : But first t eHearth is made wide, according to the Quantity of Knots to be let atonce, and that with a very smooth Floor of Clay, yet somewhat de-scending, or dripping from the extrenm Parts to the Middle, and.thence towards one of the Sides, where a Gullet is left for the Tatto run out at. The Hearth thus finished, they pile the Knots oneupon another, after the very same Manner as our Colliers do t leirWood for Charcoal, and of a Height proportionable to the Pneadthof the Hearth ; and then cover them over with a Coat of Loam, orClay (which is best) or in Defect of those, with the best and most te-nacious Earth the Place will afford ; leaving only a small Spiracle at .
the Top, whereat to put the Fire in ; and making some little Holesround about at several Heights, for the Admission of io much Air asis requisite to keep it burning, and to regulate the Fire, by openingand stopping them at Pleasure. The Process is almost the same withthat of making Charcoal, as will appear in due Place ; for, when it is° well
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