47 



remoyein tapping" with the knife must bf ^ rmrrnw as possible, 

 and that they must not injure the cambium. It is necessary to 

 prolong theTtapping period as mucji__a^_possibj J ^-aJ_Jeaat_to_(3ve 

 or six months. During this tirn^ the whole of the bark between 

 the incisions may be removed. It is not possible to lay down a 

 general rule as to which season is best for tapping. That will 

 depend on the climate of each district. If the trees go through 

 a wintering stage, that is, if they shed their leaves, do not tap 

 during that particular season, which in the tropics is generally a 

 dry one. The rainy season is the most suitable one, especially the 

 beginning and the end of the rains. Nor is it possible to decide 

 off-hand, whether it is advisable to milk, in each tapping period, 

 all the bark on the strip which is being tapped, without an 

 interval of rest. It will certainly be possible to continue tapping 

 as long as the flow of latex does not appreciably diminish, and 

 its quality does not deteriorate. In order to come to a definite 

 decision on this point one should always only mix and further 

 prepare latex that has been collected from incisions on trees at 

 an equally advanced stage. I am of opinion that the mixing of 

 latex of different quality, for instance, that from young and from 

 old trees, or that from trees at different stages of tapping, should 

 be avoided most carefully. I am sure that a single or jrerjeated 

 _greater interval between the tapping^ of a tappin^_parinir| J rannni- 

 be harmful, but on the contrary, will prove beneficial Hence 

 I would deem it advantageous to_tap. for two or three naonths,- 

 and during this time, to remove at most the half of the strips 

 of bark Between two incisions ; after thatto__gaiise for., one 

 to two months, and then to finish tappmgthe remainder of the 

 ,strips^'of J bark~Trr two to three months. 



When the first tapping period is over, allow the tree a rest 

 of several (five to six) months. Begin the second period a 

 year later than the first. Tapping must now be performed on a 

 strip of bark extending over a quarter of the tree's circumference, 

 and situated on the opposite side of the stem and opposite 

 th strip of the first period. The operation is the same as in the 

 first period. In the third period, which commences in the third 

 year, the strip of bark lying between I .md II must be t.ipp.'il. 

 and the last one in the fourth year. Then start again with tin- 

 first. As strip III immediately adjoins strip II, which has just 

 been tapped, it might be advisable to leave a narrow vertical 



