230 THE ASSAM RUBBER TREE 



average measurements of trees at the Charduar planta- 

 tion in Assam : 



The average annual increase in the height of the trees 

 at Charduar during twenty-four years was about 3-38 ft. 

 and in gnth 0-99 ft. 



Collection of the Rubber. — In Assam and Biu-ma the 

 latex of Ficus elastica does not flow sufficiently freely to 

 be collected in bulk. When incisions are made a slight 

 flow of latex occurs, but after two or three minutes this 

 ceases and the latex then simply fills the cuts and there 

 coagulates. In order to obtain the rubber in these 

 circumstances a number of transverse cuts are usually 

 made on the stems and branches by means of a V-shaped 

 gouge. The cuts are made 18 in. apart and extend 

 about half-way round the stem or branch. The latex 

 which flows from the cuts either rims down tlie stem 

 or, in the case of incisions made in the branches, falls to 

 the ground, and is there received on small bamboo mats 

 placed to catch it. These mats are moved about as the 

 tapping proceeds, and the latex is allowed to coagidate 

 upon them, thus forming a cake of rubber which is sub- 

 sequently stripped off. The rubber which coagulates 

 in the cuts and on the stem is allowed to remain for two 

 or three days, and is then collected in the form of scrap, 

 which is first cleaned by hand picking, then dried, and 

 finally pressed into blocks. The " mat " rubber is treated 

 in a similar way. 



Another method of tapping which has been tried in 

 Cachar consists in making a scries of transverse cuts, 

 at least U in. apart, with a chisel i to J in. wide. These 



