124 



NOTES ON DAMAR TAPPING PENAK. 

 (BALANOCARPUS MAXIMUS.) 



The " damar " of commerce, known to the trade as Damar Mata 

 Kuching, is obtained principally from the Penak tree, and is col- 

 lected by cutting through the bark down to the cambium. The damar 

 begins to exude in about two days and is ready for collection in 

 from seven to fifteen days; some varieties of Penak give quicker and 

 better returns than others. The collector chips off the damar, which 

 has exuded, with his parang into a receptacle made from the 11 Palas" 

 leaf, and then reopens the cuts, by cutting off a thin layer of bark. 



Trees can be tapped without detriment once a fortnight, but 



more frequent tapping is apt to cause premature decay of the tree, 

 especially if the cuts penetrate the heartwood rendering the tree 

 liable to attacks of fungus: also the tree should not be "ringed" 

 completely. 



The damar exudes more freely in the dry weather. 



After collection the damar is picked over by women, and gener- 

 ally placed on the market in two qualities. 



The trade is at present in the hands of a few Chinese, who keep 

 prices down ; but there is little doubt but that a very much better 

 price could be obtained by direct shipment to Europe. 



A few of the more venturesome climb the trees to collect the 

 damar, from the branches, where it sometimes collects in large lumps 

 having exuded naturally due to some injury to the tree; but this is 

 a work of great danger and several fatalities have occurred. 



As much as twenty- five catties can be obtained at one tapping; 

 from three hundred cuts, 6" apart, if the tree is climbed, and damar 

 collected from the branches ; but the average yield of a tree is about 

 one catty per month. A good collector can get as much as five 

 catties a day, which he can dispose of to the Chinese dealers, at 

 prices varying from four to eight cents a catty according to quality. 



S. W. MOORHOUSE. 



Kuala Pilah, 6th March, 1905. 



CORRESPONDENCE 



The Editor, 



Agricultural Bulletin. 



MANGROVES IN THE DINDINGS. 



District Office, Dindings, 

 March 14th, 1903. 



Dear Sir,— It may be of interest in connection with Mr. Furni- 

 vall S article in the Bulletin for January, on Mangrove Swamps, to 



