28 



THE WHOLE ART OF RUBBER-GROWING 



possible that a neater and more scientific application 

 of the principle he adopts (which is a magnified 

 " pricking- " with the machette) would be found to 

 give results much more satis- 

 factory than those associated 

 with the herring-bone, half- 

 herring-bone and spiral sys- 

 tems now in general use among 

 planters. From personal ex- 

 perience ranging over a long 

 period in the whole realm of the 

 rubber zone, w r hich embraces 

 countries as far apart as Brazil 

 and North Borneo, I am per- 

 suaded that the good method 

 is to be found in a modification 



A Vertical incision from tap- r ,1 



ping line to base of tree, ot tne System pursued DV the 



seringueiro m the tapping of 

 the Hancornia or Mangabeira 

 rubber trees. There is no need 

 to describe this particular 

 method in detail. Suffice it to 

 say that it has some likeness 

 to the sketch submitted herewith. 



In no case should the trees subjected to this system 

 be tapped at a greater height than 20 inches from the 

 base. The incisions should be made half-way around 

 the trunk 6 inches apart, leaving room for the long 

 vertical cut in the centre. As soon as the incisions 

 are made a spray of ammonia water (i to 100 

 solution) may with advantage be applied to the 



20 inches in length convey- 

 ing the latex to the cup at 

 base of tree. 



B Tapping line, 20 inches from 

 base of tree. 



c Space between lateral in- 

 cisions 6 inches. 



D Latex Cup 



