91 



have to be deducted from a calendar year --rainy days, 

 feast days, etc. for the native workmen. The number 

 of cuts to the inch for an average workman is calculated 

 at about 20. When half the tree has been tapped, another 

 V may be put on the other side, but in the ordinary 

 course of nature the trees will have increased in girth 

 during the first year of tapping, and should, in the 

 second year, be large enough for a half herring bone 

 to be put on a quarter section. Having regard to the 

 girth of the trees, two side cuts may then be made; 

 the tapping area will be about 38*, or a little more than 

 three feet above the soil. A year later another cut may 

 be put on. 



When the third half herring bone is made, the tapper 

 will have got back again to the lower part of the tree 

 which was tapped with the V, and then another side cut 

 is made. The tapping area will then reach to 70" above 

 the soil, or nearly six feet. At a greater height than this, 

 tapping can only be effected with the aid of a ladder. 

 (see fig. 33). 



On a third estate which had only young plantations, 

 the following system was adopted. As soon as a tree, 

 at 1 8" above the soil, had a girth of 18", a V was made 

 over half the surface. The tapping lines were set out 

 with a tin template at an angle of 45 with the vertical 

 groove. The vertical depth of the V was therefore about 

 61//. (see fig. 34). In this case, the trees, as they increased 

 in girth, were intended to be divided in quarter sections for 

 tapping. Experiences teaches us that while the trees are 

 young, they will not suffer from a second tapping being 

 made on renewed bark in less than four years. 



The following simple system (see fig. 34) suitable for 



