546 Assembly Proceedings, April 5-22, 1720.

U. H. J.

age, which goods were imported in the Ship whereof
Master from Consigned to and Enterd
by the day of
and are of the Growth of his Majestys Plantations in America
As appears to us by the Masters Affidavit And a Certificate
under the hands & Seals of the dated the
day of And we find them duly Qualifyed to Entitule
the abovesaid to the premiums appointed by the
abovesaid Act.

The method of preparing Tar in Russia.

1. Choice being first made of the fattest fir trees which are
full of Turpentine, they are barked in the month of October
from the Bottom 8 foot high except a slip three or four fingers
broad which is left on one side quite up. (Several persons
agree the trees must be barked in October and not in the
spring). The strip of bark is to be left on the north Side. In
this condition the trees are to stand at Least for a year; if for
two or three years it is still better, Turpentine setting in the
mean time on the part that is barked.
2^d When ready for use the Tree is Cut down generally in
the winter for the Conveniency of Sled way & the Part which
is barked is Cut off Carryed to the place where tis Designed
to burn, Splitt att full Length into Billetts ab^t the thickness of

p. 100

an Arm & laid in piles Six foot high that a Computation may
be made of the Tarr it will Yield.
3^d For the burning a Clay ground is Chosen, a trench is
made, the wood piled up 30, or 40 fathom more or less as
there is Provision, Covered with Earth and the Fire Kindled,
Just after the same Methods as are used in Burning Charcoale
if tis a loose or Sandy Ground the Bottom of the trench must
be well plaistered with Clay.
4^th The Trench is made deepest in the Middle after the
form of a Shallow Tray, For the Tarr which Sweats out of the
wood by the heat to Settle and run off by a little Channell or
drain made of Fir bark under the Ground into an hh^d or Tubb
which is placed at some Distance Lower than the Bottom of
the Trench.
5^th If the weather is dry and calm that the wood burns
slowly, it produces more and better Tarr than if it is windy
and burns fast. If it be wett or damp weather the Tarr will
be watery, and in that case must be separated and cleaned
afterwards. Tis cleaned only by tapping the cask at the end
or on the Side, and letting it stand a night, the water will
gather there and run off.