78 



TERMITES AND RUBBER. 



Lanadron Estate, 

 Muar, via Singapore, 

 Straits Settlements. 

 1 6th February, 1905. 



The Editor, 



The Agricultural Bulletin, 

 Singapore. 



Dear Sir, — Re Termes Gestroi attacking Para Rubber when 

 growing in grass (cf. your note to Mr. ROBINSON'S paper on Ter- 

 mites in your December issue) : — 



I have found numerous cases of this occurring and not only when 

 the trees are surrounded by grass, but also when growing in lalang. 

 Neither of these seem to be any hindrance to them, as they carry on 

 their labours as vigorously as ever destroying several adjacent trees 

 as they would do were the ground clear. 



Your faithfully, 



ROGER PEARS. 



TAPPING FICUS ELASTICA. 



Lanadron Estate, 



Muar } via Singapore, 

 Straits Settlements. 

 15th February, 1905. 



The Editor, 



The Agricultural Bulletin, 



Singapore. 



Sir,- — The following method of tapping Ram bong (Ficus Elastica) 

 may be of interest to some of your readers : — 



A V-shaped channel is first cut in the outer hark only with an 

 ordinary gouge, and at the foot of this the tin is fixed; a single deep 

 cut penetrating to the wood is then made down the centre of each 

 arm of the V chani el, when the latex flows freely out. For making 

 this latter cut an ordinary dinner knife does as well as anything as 

 the blade is straight and thin. 



Using this method 8 coolies working half a day only on 4 J year 

 old trees have collected sufficient latex to make 1 1 \ lbs. <> ! wet bis- 

 cuit which should weigh when dry about 8 lbs. Coagulation was 

 brought about by boiii ng as recommended by Mr. Lark EN. 



