126 
* By the excision method deep cuts as far as the cambium are 
made, while by the incision system only shallow channels are opened, 
just deep enough to allow the latex to run down ne tree ; incisions 
are then made into these channels by means of a 
“ Of the incision tapping, the most satisfactory <féralte, so far as 
the quantity of latex is concerned, were obtained from the spiral 
system; this gave in comparison with the total length of cuts the 
highest yields of latex. 
“ ‘Taking it all round however the experiments carried out with the 
excision method have been very disappointing. Trees tapped last 
year for the first time, and tapped on the same area this year gave 
only one-tenth of the amount of latex yielded last year, This 
shows that a tree has to be given saae years’ rest after one tapping 
before it can be profitably tapped ag 
* There seems to me but little yonke ‘left that the incision tapping 
by means of a pricker is the right method for sie teh trees, as 
there is sa Ars little damage done to the plant and, as 
Dr. Christy of Uganda assured us, a tree can be sapaiel three 
times a ae > witoas showing a decrease in yield. 
** Experiments were also made in connection with the preparation 
of Funtumia rubber 
“ Of the cold methods, i i.e. coagulation without boiling the latex— 
purub and acetic had no effect on the Funtumia latex. Good 
biscuits can be prepared by adding formalin or absolute alcohol to 
the latter. But there is no reason why the native should use 
expensive chemicals for the preparation of his rubber, as good thin 
biscuits can just as well be made by simply boiling the latex and 
then washing and pressing it, the principal thing being to boil as 
small a quantity of latex as possible at a time, so as to ensure the 
promarphen of very thin biscuits. The latter are then easily 
ried. 
Notes on F elastiea will be found in the Kew Bulletin, 1905, 
p. 56; 1907, pp. 187 and 249 ; 1909, p. 147 and 1910, p. 206. 
Forestry among the Chinese.—It is curious to turn from the 
deliberately business-like method with which a European nation 
attacks the question of afforestation to the slow and irregular 
beginnings of the idea of forestry in the Oriental mind. To the 
Chinese the very notion of the conservation of forest, or of the 
afforestation of denuded ee is foreign. The Mandarins and 
idea of forestry which is found in South China, it is necessary to 
remember that the present inhabitants, originating from the north, 
netrating in past ages little by little into the virgin forests 
hich then covered the mountains before them, came to regard it 
a a virtue to clear from the ground the trees which afforded 
