68 TAPPING SYSTEMS 



adopted in certain cases, notably in tapping Hevea trees. 

 It has been found that if the initial incisions made in 

 tapping Hevea trees are reopened, either by cutting off a 

 thin shaving of bark from the lower edge of the incision 

 or by means of a pricking instrument, a further flow of 

 latex occurs, and that the process may be repeated every 

 day or every alternate day for long periods. This response 

 to repeated tapping is one of the characteristic features 

 of Hevea brasiliensis and forms one of its great advan- 

 tages for plantation purposes. The Ceara tree sometimes 

 shows a similar response when growing under suitable 

 conditions. In other trees, however, such as Funtumia 

 elastica, the whole of the available latex can be obtained 

 at the first tapping and no further yield results on re- 

 opening the cuts. Additional details regarding this 

 method are given in the chapter specially devoted to the 

 Para tree. 



