104 THE PARA RUBBER TREE 



and July, August, and September are the driest months. 

 The cUmatic conditions on the upper tributaries and on 

 the higher lands no doubt differ in some respects from 

 those of the lower river. 



Collection and Preparation of Para Rubber in Brazil.— 

 The rubber is usually collected during the dry season, 

 the occm-rence and dmration of which vary considerably 

 in the different districts. As a rule, the tapping is con- 

 ducted between INIay and February, and the best period 

 is stated to be from 3Iay to September. 



The native collector first selects from 100 to 150 Hevea 

 trees growmg in close proximity in the forest, and, in 

 order to facilitate his subsequent operations, he connects 

 these by a path beginning and ending at his hut. Such 

 a group of trees is known as an " estrada." The general 

 method of working an estrada is as follows : The col- 

 lector, starting at or before sunrise, taps each tree in turn 

 by the method described below, and, having completed 

 the round, he is back at his hut. After a short interval 

 he agam sets out to collect the latex, which he carries 

 to his hut and converts into rubber the same day. 



The tapping is performed with a small axe having a 

 cutting edge only 1 to 1| in. long. With this instrument 

 the collector makes one or more incisions in the bark and 

 immediately fixes a tin cup beneath the cut to catch 

 the latex. The incisions, which are made in a slanting 

 direction, are usually placed horizontally one or two feet 

 apart round the trunk, so that the number of mcisions 

 made on a tree at each tappmg depends upon its circum- 

 ference. Sometimes the collectors make the first in- 

 cisions at the base of the tree and work upwards, whilst 

 in other cases they commence operations at a height of 

 6 ft. or more and make the succeeding incisions below. 

 The second day's incisions are made about 4 in. vertically 

 above or below the first, and the series is continued in this 

 way until the row is completed. A new series of cuts is 

 then commenced at the side of the first row. 



In some districts of Brazil the trees are tapped every 

 day, whereas in others the tapping is only performed 

 every other day. In the latter case it is usual for the 

 collector to work two estradas alternately so as to obtain 

 a daily yield. Tapping is usually suspended dming rain. 

 It is estimated that the number of tappuigs received by 



