THE AFRICAN RUBBER VINES 207 



either as they hang on the trees or after detachmg the 

 branches as completely as possible from their supports 

 and laying them on the ground ; and (2) severing the vines 

 at or near the ground, cutting up the stems into short 

 lengths and allowing the latex to drain out, and then in 

 some cases extractmg the rubber left in the bark by 

 a process of beating. Formerly the second method of 

 cuttmg down the vines was not regarded with favour, 

 as it was considered to lead to the destruction of the 

 plants ; and in the Belgian Congo this system of exploita- 

 tion was prohibited as far as possible, only the tapping 

 method bvhig allowed. 



The chief objections to the native methods of tappmg 

 are as follows : (1) the number of incisions is excessive 

 and they are made on every available stem, even the 

 smallest ; (2) the incisions are usually of considerable 

 size, frequently almost ench-cling the stem, whilst in other 

 cases long slices of bark are removed, exposmg large areas 

 of wood ; such incisions never heal completely and thus 

 afford an easy entry for insect and fungoid pests ; and 

 (3) the vines are usually retapped before the previous 

 incisions have healed. As a result of such treatment the 

 vitality of the plant is affected, and if the tappmg is 

 continued, the vine is speedily killed, especially in those 

 cases in which it has been puUed down from its natm-al 

 position and laid on the ground. Attempts have accord- 

 ingly been made to improve the methods of tapping 

 employed by the rubber collectors, so as to ensure that 

 the vines shall not be tapped within 30 in. of the base ; 

 that stems less than 6 in. in circumference shall not be 

 tapped ; that only narrow incisions shall be made, 8 to 

 10 in. apart on one side of the stem, and shall not extend 

 more than one-third or half-way round the stem ; that 

 the incisions shall not expose the wood ; and that the 

 vines shaU not be retapped until the previous incisions 

 have healed. It has been sought to attain these objects 

 by the introduction of tapping regulations, which, how- 

 ever, are difficult to enforce without a very large staff 

 of Forestry officers, and by the instruction of the natives 

 in rational methods of tapping either in " rubber schools," 

 such as have been established in French West Africa, or 

 by travelling instructors. Considerable improvement 

 has been effected in French West Africa as the result 



