3 88 



latex and thus less wasteful of bark while, beside: the t 1 

 tension would probably remain unaffected. 



I therefore sketched out the following pattern (Fig. I the dotted 

 line representing the original vertical channel) of a modified half- 

 herring-bone — I should like to say improved, but from lack of 

 opportunity to test it cannot yet do so — which, if we desire to stick 

 to the alphabet for tapping nomenclature, instead of a number of 

 Roman Vs occupying the tree at intervals, might be described as a 

 column of Greek Ys ascending the trunk— ascending because 

 tapping must be done from base upwards. 



A very symmetrical pattern that would probably heal rapidly is 

 also obtained by reversing each alternate Y. 



Having gone so far it was of course obvious that the alteration 

 should be carried to its logical conclusion and thus Fig. 2 was 

 obtained. 



The basis of the method is itself a very simple pattern, productive 

 throughout all its length. This is a 'continuous regular zig-zag, 

 but I am not aware that it has been experimented with in this form 

 for the orthodox zig-zag seems to be two oblique cuts joined by a 

 vertical, and so useless, channel. The advantage of the full pattern 

 however is that the flow from the lateral projections at once forms a 

 leading stream which is joined bv the decending latex from each 

 step above as tapped, and so obviates anv likelihood of delay or 

 overflow at the angles. 



I fancy that the pattern will be found very productive and of 

 value when it is required to obtain a large amount of rubber per 

 tree. The proportion of scrap will probably be small owing to the 

 strong flow of latex throughout ; the fluid from above helping to 

 wash down that below and thus differing from the ordinary herring- 

 bone where the latex in the lateral cuts soon begins to coagulate. 



From time to time various tapping patterns have been tried and 

 found unsatisfactory, the single incision, for instance, and the 

 Ceylon sp.ral which is now bein- regarded as hardly fulfilling all 

 that was expected of it, and the above ideas will perhaps find a 

 place m the same category, but as I am at present unable to experi- 

 ment with them myself 'l should be glad to hear, through your 

 l>agv. what results have been obtained by any one who thought the 



C. BODEX KLOSS. 



Singapore, 4 m November, i 9 o 7 . 



