CHAPTER VII. 

 WHERE TO TAP. 



Occurrence of latex in parts of the plant — Rubber from young parts 

 of trees — Tapping virgin and wound areas — Wound response and 

 increased yields at Peradeniya, Java, and the Straits — Interval 

 between successive tappings and wound response — Arden's results — 

 dotting of rubber in convex wound areas — Method of formation of 

 Para milk tubes — Best yielding areas — Results of experiments from 

 the base upwards in the Straits and Ceylon — Illustration showing 

 tapping from 6 to 16 feet and base to 50 feet at Henaratgoda — 

 Yields obtained from various levels at Henaratgoda. 



IT is well-known that in the Para rubber tree the latex occurs in 

 all parts of the stem and branches and in the leaves. But the 

 qualitj' and quantity of the latex in the leaves, young twigs, and 

 branches are such as to render the collection from these areas 

 unremunerative. The more or less successful production of gutta- 

 percha from leaves led many to anticipate that rubber might be 

 obtainable from the foliage and young twigs of Hevea brasiliensis. 

 " The latex in young stems* and leaves does not freely ooze out 

 and mix with water, but clots 'where it exudes in little lumps, 

 which^cling to the broken pieces of stem." The rubber from these 

 tissues is adhesive and has less elasticity and strength than the rub- 

 ber from the trunks of mature trees. It may be safely asserted that 

 the collection of latex from tins species must be made from the stem, 

 and in some cases perhaps the main branches, and that all other 

 parts may be neglected as sources of paying quantities of market- 

 able rubber. In practice it is easier to tap the stem from six feet 

 downwards than any other part, though the erection of stands, scaf- 

 folding, and the use of ladders for tapping higher parts of the stem and 

 thick branches has been tried with successful results. Estates are 

 known where rubber in paying quantities has been obtained from 

 six to twenty feet, but tapping above six feet is not generally 

 adopted. The fact that a maximum of 10 to over 20 lb. of rubber 

 per tree has been obtained from the lower part of the stem alone 

 within twelve months from commencing tapping operations makes 

 it very doubtful whether tapping of less accessible parts will come 

 into general force. The strain on the plant to heal the wound 

 area from six feet downwards is quite as much as it need stand. 



* Parkin, /. c. 



