490 FETCH : 



Hevoa was again tapped at Henaratgoda in 1883, and there 

 is still in the Peradeniya Museum a sample of twelve ounces 

 obtained in that j-ear. Samples of Hevea, CastiUoa, and Ceara 

 rubber from Henaratgoda wore exhibited at the Colombo 

 Show in 1883. 



After that dat« the trees appear to have been left alone, the 

 impression being that they could not be tapped safely until 

 they wei-e ten years old ; but no exact statement can be made, 

 because Trimen's diaries for Henaratgoda, and his notes on 

 rubber, are missing from the Peradeniya records. 



In 1888 Trimen tapped one of the Henaratgoda trees, eleven 

 years old — circumference 50 inches at 3 feet. It was tapped 

 during three periods of dry weather, viz., 7 days between 

 January 25 and February 15, 6 days between July 20 and 

 August 29, and 4 days between December 6 and 20. The 

 total yield was 1 lb. 12| oz., the rubber being in thick strings 

 and small cakes, the former coagulated on the tree and the 

 latter in the cups. Tapping consisted of single obUque 

 incisions, as tefore. Part of this sample is stiU in the Pera- 

 deniya Museum in fair condition. 



The same tree was tapped again in 1890, for 17 days, on 

 about the same dates as before. Small V cuts were made 

 with a chisel, instead of oblique cuts with a knife. Some of 

 the latex was collected in coconut shells fastened with clay to 

 the base of the stem, but most of it coagulated on the tree : 

 2 lb. 10 oz. of rubber was obtained. In 1892 it was again 

 tapjxjd in the same way, and 2 lb. 13 oz. obtained : 2 lb. of 

 this was sent to England and valued at 25. 3d. to 2s. (5d. 

 per lb. ; the brokers reported that the quality was very good 

 indeed, and the curing seemed to have been effected in the 

 pro|xjr mafinor ! In 1894 the same tree yielded 3 lb. 3 oz., 

 and Trimen stated that he had httle doubt it would have 

 borno t;ij)ping every year ; this year's samjile was valued in 

 England at 26'. to 26'. 4d.. per lb. In 1890 3 lb. wore taken 

 from it. 



The first record of any tapping at Singapore occurs in the 

 report for 1890, where Ridley stated : " The Para rubber trees 

 continue to thrive in tiio damper spots, and those that are old 

 enough to cut j)roduco a considerable quantity of rubber, 



