84 THE WHOLE ART OF RUBBER-GROWING 



without delay, the employment of reagents is a 

 necessity, and all that remains to be done in these 

 circumstances is to see that a combined coagulating 

 and disinfecting acid is used, such as hydrofluoric, 

 and dissolved carbolic acids in their proper propor- 

 tions. Ceara latex coagulates perfectly, however, 

 in ordinary water (five parts to one of latex), but 

 the process is a long one and somewhat tedious. 

 Following coagulation, the mass should be fashioned 

 into oval biscuits 12 inches in diameter and J- inch 

 thick and smoke-dried without delay. In this form 

 Ceara rubber will always run Fine Para very close 

 in the open market. 



When Ceara trees are two years old they should 

 be tapped lightly and tentatively without removing 

 the bark, and then allow r ed to rest until they have 

 almost reached their third year. This tends to bring 

 the plants more rapidly to the bearing stage than 

 if they were allowed to remain sterile over that 

 period. The yield is also much greater when the 

 tree is under full tap, whilst one of the most pro- 

 nounced and satisfactory features of this treatment 

 is the remarkable increase in the girth and general 

 dimensions of the tree over those that are not so 

 tapped. For the first two years all weeds and 

 undergrowth should be kept down. After that 

 period, however, the plantation, owing to the shade 

 afforded by the close-standing trees, will give little 

 or no trouble, in this resoect. 



