122 THE PARA RUBBER TREE 



ally adopted at the present time on the plantations in 

 Ceylon and Malaya is the half-herringbone system, the in- 

 cisions being restricted to one quarter of the circumference 

 of the tree at a time and reopened every day or every 

 second or third day. The procediure is usually as follows : 



When the tree has attained a sufficient gu'th for 

 tapping, the trunlv is divided into four equal vertical 

 sections, and on one section tapping lines are drawn to 

 a height of about 6 ft. for the guidance of the tapper. 

 The coolie first cuts a vertical channel as high as he 

 can reach on one side of the area to be tapped, and a,t 

 the base of this he inserts a small metal spout into the 

 bark to direct the latex into the collecting-cup placed 

 below. He then cuts the lateral incisions leading into 

 the vertical channel, which are usually made at an angle 

 of 45 degi'ces and about 12 in. apart. These incisions 

 must be made sufficiently deeply to ensure a good flow 

 of latex, but should not penetrate the wood. The latex 

 which exudes runs down the oblique lateral cuts into 

 the vertical channel and thence into the cup at the base 

 of the tree. Early the next morning, assuming that 

 the trees are bemg tapped everj'^ da}', the coolie pares a 

 very thin slice of bark from the lower edge of each of 

 the lateral cuts, when a fresh flow of latex occurs. This 

 procedure is repeated day by day until the whole of the 

 bark between the adjacent lateral incisions has been 

 removed. It is very important in this method of tapping 

 that the successive shavings of bark which are cut from 

 the lower edge of the incisions should be very thin, in 

 order that the available bark may last as long as possible. 

 It has been found in practice that shavings ^V in., or even 

 less, in thickness can be easily cut, so that if 12 in. of 

 bark are left between the original lateral incisions about 

 240 tappings will be possible before the ^^•hole of the bark 

 has been cut away. 



A quarter of the trunk treated in this manner will 

 therefore suffice for a year's tapping. During the second 

 year the opposite quarter is tapped, and tiien the two 

 remaining quarters in rotation. In tiie fiftli year the 

 renewed bark on the first section will be tapped, and so on. 



The bark heals from the upper edge of the cuts as the 

 tapping proceeds, and if tiie operations have been care- 

 fully performed, without unduly injuring the cambium, 



