Show tab bikol TREE binl thi pirlous that are derived from it trade joural A casual glance at inga of any timber country notably along alie cheeka and ravines re ofala the fact that at least some birch twigs havo withstood the on of country pedagogues gues who from times remote have beau iden lifred with the legend of birch oil and elbow grease as an accelerator to the sluggish school boy aa he stumbles along over the obstacles on the side of science hill blany twigs remain and outside their legendary historic kaiue in the foregoing the twigs aud bark of the common birch burnla alba have really an intrinsic value not second to many of the most valuable plants even the leaver and young shoots a resinous substance having an acid reaction which under the long legged names of the pharmacist is sold aa a medicinal preparation for as high as ag per fluid ounce the inner bark ee like cinchona in its nature and is used largely as an adulterant for quinine in many parts of europe the so called cinchona mixture has been bound by an analysis to consist in many instance of the alkaloid found in the inner bark or the humble birch tree outer yields a peculiar reu matic 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 perished on those barren des plains ia the only obstacle thus far to prevent american ani sans competing with russia and austria in fine leather goods it ia not necessary however to go into chemical technicalities and details in order to arrive at a profitable solution of the of birch twigs and birch bark when the larger timber is being cut away and hauled to the sawmill or the turning lathe when it is stated that the oil of wintergreen oleum cault beria so tr agrant and expensive is nearly always abed with birch oil much of it even 13 birch oil pure nd simple bill is eold as wintergreen oil and ia win bergreen ter green oil to all intents and pur bobes pobes having when properly prepared and refined the same properties viz specific gravity 1173 boiling point and mixes readily with alcohol chloroform etc the appliances necessary for the preparation of this oil are neither intricate nor costly being simply a a large tub supplied with a coil and steam connection of course we are not expected to go into all the details of manufacture only brief can the bigeh limba twigs bark and even the leaves if a mere commercial oil 13 to be made are gathered and placed in large tub containing the coil for steam heating and as fast as the mass lates it is kept covered with water and the tub being supplied with a tight biting lid or manhole should be open as little as possible after becoming nearly full steam is turned on and the batch kept about blood warm lor houra this will dissolve nearly all the oil and resinous matters which being precipitated 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 i connection with a small barrel or keg the tank is made tight and brought to a boil the steam baa bog previously dissolved the oils etc will now vaporize them and will condense in the latt keg after a few houis done the kee is banged bunged or corked up aud is ready for shipment aa commercial wintergreen oil though made from birch refuse continually in the way |