66 



case, no doubt the Fiddlewood tree was taking too much water 

 from the ground and not leaving enough for the Para tree. Acci- 

 dental circumstances must be taken into account when a tree 

 refuses to milk properly. It may not be the fault of the tree itself 

 as much as the fault of the environment. 



M. Tromp DE Haas in speaking of a small tree which gave 

 actually more latex than a big one, states that this tree which was 

 the same age as the big one. was arrested in growth, and says that 

 if the Heveas are cultivated properly we should be able to obtain 

 only large trees. The Editor of the Journal writes in a foot note that 

 it would be evidently preferable to have a large number of small 

 trees than a small number of large ones. This is however not in ac- 

 cordance with the facts shewn in the last report of the Gardens on 

 rubber tapping, the proportion of rubber per unit of bark and the 

 weight of the rubber being greater in large than small trees. 



The system of tapping adopted by M. TROMP DE HAAS, is differ- 

 ent from any of the usual forms. A tree is marked out with 4 vertical 

 grooves, and a row of cuts seven in number made at right angles 

 to each groove, on one side only. At the second collecting period 

 similar cuts are made on the other side of each vertical groove 

 meeting those of the first tapping in a V shape. A cup is put under 

 every alternate cut. The third tapping is made under the first set 

 of cuts, the fourth under the second series. The first cuts are made 

 with a gouge, and opened 10 to 15 times with a concave chisel. 

 The cuts are made down to the wood. The cups used are conic in 

 shape, and a little water is put in to prevent coagulation. The rest 

 of the system is much the same as that in common use, except that 

 the biscuits are dried at first with the aid of heat, and rolled with 

 the now out of date rolling pin. The biscuits before exporting are 

 rubbed with a little alcohol to remove any moisture. 



Results are not given, but one would be inclined to think that 

 the more modern systems of tapping would give a larger result. 



The Author says in a note that he hears that in an estate at 500 

 metres altitude the latex will not coagulate with acetic acid and ha,s 

 to be smoked. This sounds remarkable but one would like more 

 information on rubber at high altitudes. 



He also states that un smoked Para rubber does not vulcanize as 

 easily as smoked wild rubber according to manufacturers, who, it 

 appears, suggest that the plantation rubber should be smoked. 

 Plantation rubber from old trees here has been perfectly vulcanized 

 by Mr. BURGESS, I believe, without previous smoking. 



It would be easy enough to smoke the rubber as indeed was first 

 done by many rubber makers, but the smoked rubber fetched a 

 slightly lower price than unsmoked. Smoking rubber was found 

 to hasten drying and prevent the growth of mould and if it was 

 preferred by manufacturers, it would be very satisfactory for planters 

 who would save time and money by it. 



H. N. R. 



• c 



