58 THE WHOLE ART OF RUBBER-GROWING 



17 inches and 20 inches it may safely be tapped. 

 These initial tappings must be undertaken with care 

 and system. It is not advisable to attack the tree 

 at this stage as though it were a milch cow, although 

 later on the Manihot will delight in repeated tappings 

 in return for which it will always give of its best, 

 whereas it deliberately " sulks " in cases where only 

 haphazard and uncertain visits of the operator are 

 the rule. 



Initial tapping is best performed by first removing 

 the outer bark in a circle six inches wide on the 

 portion of the trunk 24 inches from the base of the 

 tree. The exposed bark, which will show green and 

 be tender to the touch, can be then lightly pricked 

 in a series of small punctures at J inch distances 

 all round the tree, the latex being allowed to 

 run down and coagulate on the bark. This is what 

 may be termed " proving the Manihot," for on the 

 results of these initial operations depends the after 

 manipulation of the tree in the general exploitation 

 of the plantation. 



Approaching its fourth year the Manihot usually 

 puts on a pronounced appearance of maturity, and, 

 other things being equal, the tree may then be sub- 

 jected to the rigorous treatment to which it naturally 

 lends itself. Tapping may be performed twice a yea." 

 — viz. before the fall of the leaf and after, or it may 

 be carried on as long as the exigencies of labour 

 permit over a period of a hundred or more days. In 

 either case it will be found that in a general way the 

 tree will not object, but on the other hand yield 

 copiously as long as there is any substance in the 



