Page:Violin Varnish and How to Make it.djvu/28

18 of this gum, the distinctive character of which is its solubility in water and non-solubility in alcohol. It is to be found in Africa, India and Australia.

It is extracted from the different species of Acacia, but many fruit trees produce similar gums.

—Copals represent a great number of rosins which vary very much in constitution. Anime is but a variety of rosin, and dammar is also but a series of similar products. Copal is much employed in the manufacture of all kinds of varnish. It is derived from certain vegetables grown principally in Africa, and as they are sent to us mixed indiscriminately it is with great difficulty that the manufacturer can distinguish between them, consequently they can seldom repeat a varnish identically from two deliveries of rosins.

It is also obtained in small quantities from India, America and Australia.

It is a hard substance which, after being subjected to the process of melting, becomes partially soluble in spirit and to a higher degree in ether and essence of turpentine.