Sap harvesting.

clementine · 22nd April 2007, 11:38 AM

Ol?,

Out and about today and actually remembered the camera so I took a piccy of this.(see attachment)

Seen it a lot in this region (central Portugal) on hundreds of trees.

I was assuming that they harvest the sap to add to shampoos or detergents for the aroma.

Can anyone confirm this or are there other reasons?

Cheers, nick.

Sean Freeman · 22nd April 2007, 01:51 PM

G'day mate, yep they're harvesting the gum from the trees, they do it in China and the Phillipines too. Not just for soaps, years gone by was used in chewing gum..mabe still is not sure. Anyway here's a PDF that has a very unusual use or at least one I didn't know about

White%20Residue%20(26Jan05).pdf

Basically is the low labour costs in Portugal that make it so profitable for companies envovled..got to go to work see ya

clementine · 22nd April 2007, 03:43 PM

Tree fluids
Ol?,

Picked this little bit of info up, kinda confirms the PDF Sean which was a bit heavy going fir me.

The third major process includes the harvesting of resin and latex from the inner bark and oeloresins and syrup from the sapwood. Resin is found especially in the pine. It oozes out of bark wounds to protect the tree from infection. To commercially obtain resin, the worker must wound the tree by peeling off a thin layer of the bark or piercing it.

Most resins thicken and harden when exposed to the air, but some trees produce liquid resins or oleoresins, such as turpentine from conifers. Severe wounds are made into one side of the tree wood to harvest turpentine. The turpentine runs down the wound and is collected and hauled to storage. Turpentine is distilled into turpentine oil with a colophony or rosin residue.

And like you say, labour is cheap here still. I'm in direct competition now trying to set up my new business here.

Cheers,

Nick.

Ekka · 22nd April 2007, 04:56 PM

Some interesting links for you.

http://www.pfaf.org/database/search_...?K%5B%5D=Resin

http://www.fao.org/docrep/V6460E/v6460e05.htm

http://www.fao.org/docrep/V5350e/V5350e10.htm

http://www.somaluna.com/product.asp?p=668

clementine · 22nd April 2007, 05:39 PM

Thanks Eric

Too Much to digest in one go, but suggests that Portugal is on the decline as a producer/harvester of sap. Maybe due to the influx of investment from overseas buyers of property and the increase in global tourism driving up labour costs, more money about generally for the locals. Still are lots of poor people here though, same everywhere you go I suppose.
Ya got ya poor people there right?

Cheers,

Nick.

22nd April 2007, 01:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,671	G'day mate, yep they're harvesting the gum from the trees, they do it in China and the Phillipines too. Not just for soaps, years gone by was used in chewing gum..mabe still is not sure. Anyway here's a PDF that has a very unusual use or at least one I didn't know about White%20Residue%20(26Jan05).pdf Basically is the low labour costs in Portugal that make it so profitable for companies envovled..got to go to work see ya __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

22nd April 2007, 03:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
clementine Mature tree Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Central Portugal Posts: 288	Tree fluids Ol?, Picked this little bit of info up, kinda confirms the PDF Sean which was a bit heavy going fir me. The third major process includes the harvesting of resin and latex from the inner bark and oeloresins and syrup from the sapwood. Resin is found especially in the pine. It oozes out of bark wounds to protect the tree from infection. To commercially obtain resin, the worker must wound the tree by peeling off a thin layer of the bark or piercing it. Most resins thicken and harden when exposed to the air, but some trees produce liquid resins or oleoresins, such as turpentine from conifers. Severe wounds are made into one side of the tree wood to harvest turpentine. The turpentine runs down the wound and is collected and hauled to storage. Turpentine is distilled into turpentine oil with a colophony or rosin residue. And like you say, labour is cheap here still. I'm in direct competition now trying to set up my new business here. Cheers, Nick. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons - for you are crunchy and taste of chicken! Builder in Central Portugal

22nd April 2007, 04:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,932	Some interesting links for you. http://www.pfaf.org/database/search_...?K%5B%5D=Resin http://www.fao.org/docrep/V6460E/v6460e05.htm http://www.fao.org/docrep/V5350e/V5350e10.htm http://www.somaluna.com/product.asp?p=668 __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

22nd April 2007, 05:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
clementine Mature tree Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Central Portugal Posts: 288	Thanks Eric Too Much to digest in one go, but suggests that Portugal is on the decline as a producer/harvester of sap. Maybe due to the influx of investment from overseas buyers of property and the increase in global tourism driving up labour costs, more money about generally for the locals. Still are lots of poor people here though, same everywhere you go I suppose. Ya got ya poor people there right? Cheers, Nick. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons - for you are crunchy and taste of chicken! Builder in Central Portugal

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode