46 



The chiclero usually spends the remainder of the forenoon locat- 

 ing trees for the next day's tapping. The first step after finding a 

 virgin tree is to test its flow of latex. Incisions are made in the bark 

 near the base, and if the latex flow is good the tree is marked or 

 staked for tapping ; otherwise it is discarded. In an area which has 



Aerating chicle after cooking. 



