PINEY TREE, Vateria Indica, L., the Elseo carpus copalliferus, Retz, is a lofty tree of Malabar, which produces the piney varnish, the piney resin or white dammer, Indian copal or gum anime, and the piney tallow or Dupada oil, and the timber is an excellent building wood. The tree grows plentifully in the forests of the western coast ; it grows from cuttings, and is found planted by the roadside in Malabar. The resin resembles copal, and the finer specimens are as transparent as amber, and nearly colourless. It is procured by cutting a notch in the tree, sloping inwards and downwards. This is soon filled with the juice, which in a short time hardens by exposure to the air. When used as a varnish, the usual practice is to apply the balsam before it has be come hard.
Dr. Buchanan, in his Journey through Mysore, Canara, and Malabar (ii. p. 476), says men of the Pancha]a tribe paint and varnish by the following process :—They take buttermilk and boil it with a small quantity of quicklime until strings form in the decoction and separate from the watery parts, which they decant. The stringy matter is then mixed with the paint, which has been well powdered ; with these the woodwork is first painted, it is then allowed to dry for one day, and afterwards 'receives a coat of pumdamn, which is the fresh juice of a tree called Piney marum. The pumdam must be used while it is fresh, and will not keep for more than two or three days after the first coat of paint is given, and that is followed by another of varnish. In the same manner leather may be painted and varnished. The varnish effectually resists the action of water, but when that is not proem able, the resin, melted by a slow heat, and mixed with boiling linseed oil, forms a varnish which answers equally well for most purposes. The following formula for its preparation may prove useful a new and perfectly clean earthen vessel (a chatty) put one part of the piney dammer in coarse powder, cover closely, and apply a very gentle heat until the whole is melted ; then add about two parts of linseed oil, nearly boiling hot, and trix well with a wooden spatula. Should the varnish\ wive too thick, it can at any time be reduced Itorse addition of more oil, or, if required, may be iilkar thicker in the first instance. It is essential as.
the success of the process that: the piney bf melted in a covered vessel over a very slow fire, and the whole of it reduced to a fluid before the addition of the oil, which must, to ensure an equal mixture, be nearly boiling hot. This varnish is used for carriages and other fine furniture re quiring to have their paint well protected, or to which it is desirable to impart a fine gloss. A spirit varnish is prepared by reducing to powder about six parts of piney and one of camphor, and then adding hot alcohol sufficient to dissolve the mixed powder. Alcohol does not dissolve piney without the aid of the camphor, but once dissolved will retain it in solution. The varnish thus pre pared is employed for varnishing pictures, etc., but before being used requires to be gently heated to evaporate the camphor, which otherwise will produce, by its after-evaporation, a roughness and inequality on the surface of the picture, and spoil its appearance.
Piney tallow or Dupada oil, Piney yenne, TAM., Dupada nuna, TEL., remains perfectly solid, even in hot climates. It is prepared by cleaning the seeds, then roasting and grinding them into a mass. To five seers of seed add 12 seers of water, and boil until the oil rises to the surface. Remove the oil, stir the contents of the vessel, and allow it to stand until the following day, when more oil will be observed on the surface, which may be col lected, and the process repeated. The oil is prin cipally used for lamps, but is very suitable for soaps and candle-making.
On the Malabar coast, the resin, under the name of piney dammer, is made into candles, which diffuse in burning an agreeable fragrance, give a clear, bright light with little smoke, and consume the wick so as not to require snuffing. Some of these candles that were sent to Great Britain were highly prized, and sold for very high prices. Their importation was stopped by the high duties that were levied on them.—hi. E. J. R.; O'Sh. p. 755 ; Wight ; Buchanan's Journey.