30 THE WHOLE ART OE RUBBER-GROWING 



the letter x as defining a hidden quantity, the results 

 were as follows : 



Quantity of Dry Rubber. 



and so on until, at the twentieth time of opening the 

 latex began to gradually decrease and the flow of latex 

 returned to a figure approaching the original output 

 x 40. It is interesting to compare this system with 

 the elaborate method originally pursued by planters 

 on many estates in the Mid East. 



The tree was first carefully and slightly shaved of 

 its outer bark with a knife to a height of 6 feet from 

 the ground, so as to form a perfectly smooth surface. 

 When the shaving w r as completed the wood was 

 polished, the object being to provide a nice clean road 

 over which the latex may travel easily into a clay 

 channel prepared for it at the base of the tree, 

 6 inches or so from the ground. The average yield 

 of latex from this system worked out at about 2J oz. 

 of dry rubber from a six-year-old tree, and certainly 

 not more than ij lb. from a tree in its prime. 



Another great advantage presented by the method 

 recommended is the complete preservation of the 

 bark with a certainty and rapidity of wound healing. 



