182 



THE AFRICAN RUBBER TREE 



to the first branch. The total yield of dry rubber from 

 the 5,456 trees was 702 lb., or approximately 206 oz. 

 per tree. 



The experiments were continued during 1912, tapping 

 being commenced on both wild and planted trees on 

 May 1. Up to the end of June the results obtained were 

 as follows : 



It was stated that the wild trees gave a poor yield of 

 rubber for their size, owing to the drastic treatment they 

 received years ago ; but notwithstanding this, they fur- 

 nished twice as much rubber as planted trees 18 in. or 

 more in gnth. 



In these experiments the rubber was prepared by 

 boiling the diluted latex and was subsequently smoked. 

 The cost of tapping and preparation was approximately 

 Is. 8d. per lb. ; but it is stated that this figure will be 

 reduced as the tappers become more expert. 



IV. In 1910 eighty-foiu" of the native communal 

 plantations of Funtumia trees, which have been estab- 

 lished in Southern Nigeria, were tapped for the first time 

 under the direction of the Forest Department. The 

 plantations were also thinned at the same time, the trees 

 to be removed being marked by a Forestry officer and 

 then tapped to exhaustion before being cut down. 4,706 

 of the permanent trees, 18 in. and over in girth, were 

 tapped once by the full-herringbone system to a height 

 of 10 ft., the cuts extending half-way round the stem. 

 The total yield of dry rubber was 413 lb. 12 oz., 

 equivalent to a yield of r406 oz. of dry rubber per 

 tree. In addition, 28,815 trees were tapped to exhaus- 

 tion and cut out, the majority of these being, however, 

 very small and scarcely worth tapping : they furnished 

 608 lb. 4 oz. of dry rubber, or an average yield of 0337 oz. 

 per tree. 



