THE METHODS OP TAPPING CULTIVATED CASTILLOA 

 TREES, AND THE YIELD OF RUBBER THEREFROM. 



By Professor P. CARMODY, F.I.C., F.C.S. 

 Director of Agriculture, Trinidad. 



THE method most in favour in Trinidad and Tobago 

 for the tapping of Castilloa trees requires no lengthy 

 description. The implements used are a chisel with a 

 specially thin cutting edge about ij in. wide, and a 

 wooden mallet. Every other method has been tried, 

 including paring and puncturing. 



Cuts are made along the trunk about 12 in. apart 

 vertically. Another series of cuts at about 4 in. to the 

 right and left are made, and these are continued right 

 round or half round the tree as high as can be reached 

 on foot or on ladders. The cuts are made as shown in 

 the diagram. 



The chisel is pointed slightly upwards, so that the bark 

 on the upper edge of the cut may protrude slightly over 

 the lower edge and prevent the entrance of rain. Clean 

 cuts should be made, and each cut should slope slightly 

 downwards from the horizontal to facilitate the collection 

 of the latex. The proper depth of the cut is easily 

 ascertained after a short experience. 



It depends on the condition of the trees, and the length 

 of the intervals between the tappings, whether the latex 

 will flow from or coagulate on the cuts. If it coagulates 

 on the cuts, the best course is to make a ball of the rubber 

 direct from the tree, stretching the rubber as much as 

 its strength will allow. This stretching appears to 

 improve the rubber. 



The latex when plentiful may be collected in cups or 

 in any other convenient receptacles, and the rubber 

 immediately separated from it in a centrifugal machine, 

 or more slowly by creaming and setting in shallow trays 



