strip of bark, one to two cm wide intact, between II and III, 

 so that a certain downward sap-transport is still possible from 

 the leaves. If the half herring-bone system is adopted, it would 

 be possible to use the canals of the first and second tapping periods 

 as drainage canals for the latex when tapping the strips of bark 

 III and IV. Therefore only two such canals are required on the 

 stem. In that case it is, however, necessary to make the tapping 

 cuts of periods III and IV in an oblique direction opposite, 

 to those of periods I and II. It is impossible to decide off-hand, 

 whether, when tapping the previously tapped strips of bark for 

 a second time, it might not be advisable to make the cuts of the 

 tapping system in a contrary direction to those of the previous 

 one. Whether or not it is feasible with regard to the future life 

 of the tree, to commence the fifth tapping period a year after 

 the initiation of the fourth, should in my opinion be made to 

 depend on an investigation of the sap distribution in the stem. 

 It would be necessary to sacrifice two or three trees for this 

 purpose, and to get an expert botanist (probably at some experi- 

 mental station) to make an examination for the distribution of 

 starch in wood and bark on the tapping area. If the reservoirs 

 in wood and bark have been refilled, there can be no objection 

 to the continuation of tapping, provided that the latex exuding 

 during the fresh tapping period satisfies in quality and quantity 

 all fair demands. If, however, the quantity of reserve material 

 in the reservoirs of the stem proves to be as yet too small, it 

 will be for the expert to decide how long the tree must have 

 complete rest after the fourth tapping period. These examinations 

 ought to be repeated at least every four years, at the end of each 

 fourth tapping period. 



If there are any trees on an estate, which for some reason 

 or other are to be removed, there is naturally nothing against 

 milking them as completely as possible on the full spiral system. 



After three or four cycles of four tapping periods each have 

 gone by. without causing any deterioration in the latex, or injury 

 to the trees, one rnignt feel inclined to extend the tapping 

 incisions from a strip of bark measuring a fourth of the tree's 

 circumference, to be a broader one measuring a third of or half 

 the tree's circumference. Personally, for scientific reasons, I 

 would unquestionably consider it to be most advantageous, even 

 in the case of mature trees, to keep to the original tapping system, 



