260 
“The methods of tapping and of coagulation of the rubber 
employed by the native collectors in Brazil and elsewhere are 
eque wasteful, and inefficient, and there is great room for 
describe the method which _ been employed for some years in 
the tappings carried on at Henaratgoda. 
“The requisites for the wo n are a j-inch chisel, a wooden 
mallet, a — of clean cocoanut shells, each cut in two so as to 
form small basins, a kni fe, and a ho fal of clay and water with 
which to form a Tenn deese: the 
“ The tree is first carefully and etii stisvd with the knife 
from a height of about 6 feet down to the ground, so as to form a 
ventri gar ape Only the outermost layers of the bark 
ust b oved this process, otherwise the tree will be 
idiei: When she: Paine) is completed, the tree may be polished 
by hand, or carefully brushed. The great object in view is to 
obtain a smooth and clean surface, over which the milk can run 
easily, within becoming contaminated by small particles of bark 
or other ae” as the market value of rubber depends on its 
cleanlin 
"A E po is next made round the tree about 6 inches 
above the asl e ei gules as ts catch the milk which will 
rw down the and empty it by two or more spouts into as 
any clean seh atlis placed below. Three shells ar 
suficient for a tree of 2 feet 6 inches in girth, but Mana trees 
may require four or five. The gutter is made by rolling rather 
wet clay into a sausage form, between the hands, and then pressing 
it on to the bark, and forming the channel against the bark by aid 
of a wet finger. The gutter must not beallowed to dry before the 
tapping is begun, otherwise the rubber will be contaminated by 
particles of clay ; neither must the gutter be so wet or irregular 
as to allow the acy: to be dirtied. 
“Tncisions ma w be made in the bark aah ae mallet and 
chisel, commencing iioii the top of the cleaned port V-shaped 
eut is made in two strokes. The object to be aed: at is to make 
these cuts to such a depth as just not to reach the wood. They 
should stop in the bark close to the cambium, as the vessels which 
contain the rubber occur only outside, but very close to the 
cambium. If the cambium is not injured the wound rapidly 
ters th 
the healing of th d u lower, and at the same time 
risk is run of introducing parasitic fungi into the wo which 
may cause much damage, Injury to the wood also causes a check 
ET njury t 
to the upward flow of sap, and thus to the growth. of the tree. 
with a number of isis it will be found most economical and 
satisfactory to keep separate coolies for each of the various 
operations rgita as they all need much practice. 
“ As soon z the cut is Nava the white and very rey milk 
commences to flow. A second V-shaped incision should be made 
about a foot noe the ‘ivat, and others at similar distaiiiöók down 
