RUBBER 693 



this area only, and not from the whole of the tree, a few 

 days before tapping is begun so as to leave the inner bark 

 smooth and clean and firm. 



It is also best to tap in the evening or the very early 

 morning. As the sun gets on to the trees and the tem- 

 perature rises the latex quickly coagulates in the cuts, 

 and the period of flow and consequent yield is reduced. 

 Again, it is found inadvisable to continue tapping when 

 the trees begin their annual leaf fall or while the leaves 

 are down. Not only is the flow of latex very much 

 reduced during this period, but harm appears to be done 

 to the trees if the latex is drawn from them at this time. 

 Trees tapped during the resting period have a tendency 

 to be later in regaining their full foliage, and the foliage 

 itself is smaller, while bark renewal is decidedly retarded. 



During spells of dry, hot weather the flow of latex is 

 apt to become much restricted, and in some districts drip 

 tins containing i per cent, ammonia have been used to 

 prevent the rapid coagulation of the latex in the cuts and 

 protract the time of flow. This has met with a certain 

 amount of success, but the length of the tapping season 

 is largely controlled by the climatic conditions, and unless 

 the trees can be tapped for at least four months in the 

 year without the use of ammonia or similar aids, the 

 cultivation would appear to be doubtfully profitable. 



As compared with Hevea rubber, the yield even under 

 the best of conditions is small, but more trees can be 

 grown to the acre, and the trees can be brought into 

 bearing sooner. The following are examples of the kind 

 of yield obtained in Mysore from a few trees in the 

 experimental stage with alternate day tapping over a 

 period of three months: 



Number of 

 trees 

 tapped 



10 



5 

 5 



2 

 I 



When we come to results obtained on an estate scale 

 over large areas we get rather similar figures. For 



