27 



rest being about two years. A large number of the trees 

 on which these measurements were made were closely 

 planted; the results may therefore be considered satis- 

 factory. 



Effect of Pricking on Old Trees. 



1 was led to expect, from correspondence which ap- 

 peared in the Colombo Press some time ago, that the 

 effect of pricking might be bad ! There is always the 

 danger that the teeth of the pricker might penetrate to 

 the cambium and thereby do considerable harm. The 

 trees at Henaratgoda were pared and pricked alternately, 

 and the results may therefore be taken as a guide to 

 planters. The impressions of the teeth of the pricker 

 are very distinct on the outer, dark peeling bark; but on 

 the inner, healthy tissue there is only a feebly rippled 

 surface which will, in all probability, become even in 

 course of time. The result was very gratifying, and 

 strengthens the view so repeatedly propounded in my lec- 

 tures to Ceylon planters. 



I am still more inclined to recommend frequent incision 

 instead of excision of bark for obtaining the latex now 

 that a considerable improvement has been made in the 

 Bowman-Northway pricking implement. The inventors 

 named have brought out a new type of revolving pricker, 

 the points of which are blunt and cannot, except when 

 excessive force is used, cut into the wood. The sides 

 of each tooth of the pricker are very sharp, and in the 

 tapping operation they effect a slanting cut in the bark 

 which does not penetrate to the cambium. The edges 

 and not the end of each tooth do the required work; this 

 new pricking implement marks another step in the right 

 direction. 



Can a Para Tree be Easily Killed? 



It is over a couple of years ago since I had the top of a 

 well-grown tree at Henaratgoda cut off, leaving nothing 

 beyond a single stem, devoid of all lateral branches and 

 leaves. That same trunk ^las now thrown out three 

 branches near the top, two of which are about twenty 

 feet in length and well supplied with foliage. The tree 

 will, in all probability flourish exceedingly well ; those 



