The precise tree. which produces the gum used to make the peculiar lacquer work of Japan, is now ascertained to be from the Stagmaria verniciflua, a tree genus closely allied to the Rhus or poison vine family. There are vast plantations of the tree in Japan. Each tree is tapped, and during four months juice enough to fill a three-ounce bottle exudes. One thousand trees yield about 12,000 gallons. It is said that the exact manner of its preparation has not yet been discovered by Europeans.