182 



GIBBS. 



ing this, the branches of the palm were all removed with a bolo, the conical top 

 securely bound around its circumference with bamboo rope, after which the top 

 of the cone was removed by slicing it horizontally, a lip being cut in the side 

 through which the sap could drain to a bamboo spout, which emptied into a 

 receptacle. A bamboo covering was made and placed over all in such a manner 

 as to protect the top and sap from the sun, rain, and wind. 



The tapping or removal of the top of the cone occurred at 9.20 a. m. August 

 1, 1910, and almost immediately the sap began to flow. 



Flow of sap. — The daily flow can be regulated to a considerable degree 

 by the extent to which the cut surface is kept fresh. This is explained 

 by stating that a very thin slice is removed from the cut surface at in- 

 tervals, to prevent the pores becoming clogged and stopping the flow. 

 Native superstition demands great care and experience in removing this 

 slice from the cut surface to prevent the complete cessation of the flow. 

 These precautions seem to have little foundation, as the assistant in 

 charge of the tree undertook its care, after observation of the method 

 of slicing for a time, with no bad results. Natives state that there is 

 a greater flow of sap by night than by day. Observations upon this 

 point do not entirely bear out the belief. When the slices are removed 

 twice during the twenty-four hours, at 6 o'clock in the morning and at 

 6 o'clock in the afternoon, the sap flow fluctuates, sometimes being greater 

 in the night than in the day, sometimes vice versa and sometimes ap- 

 proximately equal. For example: 



Rate of sap flow from a buri palm in 12-hour periods; two cuttings 

 each 24 hours. 



Date. 



Flow. 



Day. 



Night. 



Ootohpr IP, fin., m. to fi p. m 



cc. 

 15, 920 



cc. 



October 19, 6 p. m. to October 20, 6 a. m 



15, 410 



October 20, 6 a. m. to 6 p. m 



17, 410 



October 20, 6 p. m. to October 21, 6 a. m .. _ 



14, 290 







October 6, 6 a. ni'. to 6 p. ni 



16, 050 





October 6, 6 p. m. to October 7, 6 a. m _„ 



17,020 



October 7, 6 a. m. to 6 p. m .__ ___ 



16,250 



October 7, 6 p. m. to October 8, 6 a. m 



17, 110 







October 28, 6 a. m. to 6 p. m 



15,960 





October 28, 6 p. m. to October 29, 6 a. m „ 



15, 910 





12,500 



November 5, 6 p. m. to November 6, 6 a. m 



12,410 







The differences were found in a measure to be due to the variation 

 in thickness of the slice removed. A daily decreasing rate of flow can 

 often be changed to an increasing one by augmenting the thickness of the 



