RUBBER PLANTING 143 



bone traces on the opposite side of the tree. In this 

 case the areas A CBD and A GHB would next be tapped 

 in succession, followed by a further half-herring-bone on 

 the area CX VE above one-half of the original V. 



The Paring Process. 



The actual process of tapping is as follows. The 

 opening cuts are narrow grooves cut in the outer bark 

 and extending to within about one-eighth of an inch 

 of the cambium. It is important that the depth of 

 the groove should be exactly the same throughout its 

 length. The distance from the cambium can be gauged 

 by pricking with the blade of a pen-knife. Further 

 tapping consists in removing a thin shaving from the 

 lower side of the original groove on each occasion, always 

 to exactly the same depth. Coolies soon become very 

 expert at this work, but constant supervision is neces- 

 sary in order that no damage may be done. If the 

 tapper makes a mistake and cuts too deeply, injuring 

 the cambium, he should' be instructed to make three 

 or four very shallow cuts immediately below the wound, 

 so as to leave a thick piece of bark from which healing 

 can take place. If tapping is continued to the normal 

 depth no matter how carefully it is conducted the 

 wound is almost certain to spread. In the best tapping 

 the cuts are made to slope slightly inwards in order to 

 form a suitable groove by which the latex can reach 

 the conducting channel. The latex may need a little 



