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2. Before starting to tap, a definite system must be 

 settled upon, in accordance with which operations will 

 be effected; this system should be so arranged that 

 it will not be necessary to tap the same part of the 

 bark again within a period of four years, unless with 

 young trees. 



The general experience of planters in the Malay 

 Peninsula is that the bark should be left alone for 

 four years, in order to form a new cortex with latex 

 vessels; for very young trees a shorter interval is sufficient. 

 After this period has elapsed the same place can be 

 tapped again, possibly however, it will be necessary to 

 make the cut in a different direction the second time. 

 Therefore the following rule is necessary. 



3. The tapping system must be arranged in such a 

 way that the wounds may recover easily and that the 

 new bark which forms itself on the place which has 

 been tapped, shall have a regular and smooth surface, 

 so that it can be tapped again in a rational way 

 later on. The prejudicial influence which arises from 

 unsystematic tappipg is best seen in old trees, in which 

 from a want of experience in technical matters, different 

 tappings, i. e. different cutting and notching systems 

 have been made use of, so that everywhere on the 

 area that had been tapped, wounds, notches and badly 

 healed scars are to be seen, and it becomes almost 

 impossible to apply a regular tapping system subsequently 

 on the tree. 



The tapping system must be so arranged on the estate 

 that all the bark shall be cut away successively and 

 that there shall not be areas of untapped trees here and 



