COLLECTING THE LATEX. 



75 



native tappers would employ different knives suited to the thick- 

 ness of the bark of various trees, even were a series of knives 

 specially adapted to the bark requirements of individual trees 

 supplied to them. 



Implements for making the first incisions should excise the 

 least possible width of bark compatible with the formation of 

 a sufficient channel to 

 allow the latex to flow 

 down to the collecting 

 vessel. It is essential 

 that this implement 

 should have a keen cut- 

 ting edge to enable a 

 clean cut to be made 

 without its clogging or 

 drawing and injuring the 

 cortical tissues. Any , 

 simple, fixed, or easily 

 adjustable contrivance 

 for preventing undue 

 injury to the cambium 

 tissues during the initial 

 and subsequent tapping 

 operations is also a com- 

 mendable attribute to 

 a good tapping imple- 

 ment. As it is neces- 

 sary in the course of 

 tapping operations to 

 make incisions both in 

 an upward and down- 

 ward direction, and also FIG. 10. Modified Form of the "Christophe" 

 from left to right, and Tapping Knife. 



vice versa, the cutting 



edge should, if possible, be adapted to each of these re- 

 quirements. 



Various instruments have been devised for pricking the 

 laticiferous tissues with a view of taking full advantage of 

 " Wound Response," which will be described later, and to con- 

 serve the bark. The use of pricking tools is undoubtedly sound 



