July i, 1907.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



301 



Rubber Tapping Tools, New and Old. 



ALTHOUGH rubber milk has boon drawn from trees and 

 vines in many parts of tlic world for a very long time, 

 it was not until rubber was planted on a large scale that 

 the need for a practical and scientific tapping tool was appre- 

 ciated. To the native expert in the use of "machete," "bolo," or 

 "machadino," and working in the dense forest without super- 

 vision, no such need was apparent, and he did not care whether 

 bis cutting injured the trees or not. The study of the needs of 

 planted rubber trees has brought out many types of cutting tools, 

 anil if one follows the progress made it will be seen that the 

 simpler kinds are those that are surviving. Indeed, it is just 

 as it is in any new business. Many freak inventions center 

 about it and finally something simple, that it would seem should 

 have suggested itself at first, will remain and the others drop 

 out of sight. 



So far the greatest progress in tools has been made in regions 

 where the Hcvca has been planted. Because they are successful 



on that type of tree, however, docs not for a minute prove that 

 they will be best for the Coslilhhi, /■iiii/hmiiu, or Ficus. Indeed, 

 already the progress of invention points toward radically dif- 

 ferent tools for making incisions in the Castilloa from those 

 used for cutting the Hcira. Just what tools will be in use ten 

 years from now on great plantations, it is prcinaturj; at the 

 least to say. That is for the planter to discover when he gets 

 10 tapping on a large scale. The ideal tool, however, is one 

 that does not injure the tree, which gives the latex the best 

 opportunity for Howing, which makes a cut that heals quickly, 

 which is so simple that it needs little adjustment, so strong th.it 

 it will neither bend nor break, and so thoroughly "fool proof" 

 that the most stupid native can use it without coaching. It is 

 believed that the following illustrations afford a fairly complete 

 record of what has been done in the production of tapping tools 

 for use on th'.' various rubber-producing trees wherever rubber 

 i> prepared to an 'moortant extent. 



A South .-Xmericvx Rubber Tapi'ING Knife. 



i mi i mm ii m iiiii 



Tools fok Cittinc ■'.M.\.ngabeir.\" Ri;.i:i:k. 



(Used tor wild rubber, in Brazil.] 



N.^TIVE "M.\CHADIN0" (BrAZIL). 

 [Used for wild Hciea rubber.! 



N.-vTivE "BoLo" (Philippines). 



[fscd in e.xtr.icting gutta-percha. 1 



llAf.l !■> i-.l' :■ 



1 ooL FOR "Castilloa. 



iiid nil ilif the plantaliuii "C .i>cajal," in . Icxico. J 



ToOt^ FOR CuTTINfi CeARA RlBBER TrEES. 



.\ South American Rubber Tapping Knife. 



The "P\ra" Rubber Tapping Chisel (Ceylon). Macadam-Miller Knifed 



[I^or reopening the original incision so as to renew the flow of latex with \!":"2\1"A '" ^'''°''- '^'"'' •'"''^''=''''' "='"'"' ^"''"" "°""'"' "' 



the smallest loss of bark tissue] ^ '<^'^^" ™""' 



