AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 



OF THE 



STRAITS 



AND 



FEDERATED MALAY STATES. 



No. 9.] JUNE, 1902. [Vol. i. 



RUBBER NOTES. 



Extract from Annual Report of R. Derry. 



Para Rubber Tapping. 



Thirty-two trees about 12 years old were tapped and 125 lbs. of 

 dry rubber obtained, or nearly an average of 4 lbs. each tree. This 

 tapping was carried on more to shew the method adopted than 

 experiment, and was inspected by some planters in Perak, and 

 from Selangor. The best flow of latex commenced in August, 

 although some trees had been tried earlier. The season, however, 

 with many varieties of trees shewed much variation, for instance, 

 coco-nuts were flow r ering in September which is two, or more, 

 months earlier than is usual at Kuala Kangsar. A deciduous Ficus 

 which has shed its leaves in February for four consecutive years 

 did so last year in December. This variation was most probably 

 influenced by the dry months in the first half of the year, and the 

 latex of Para Rubber undoubtedly exudes best on wet days. I 

 should think the best season for tapping would be from June to 

 November. 



Experimental Taf%ing. 



Two Para Rubber trees in Taiping garden about 10 years old 

 and with girths of 4' 2" and 4' 7" at 3 feet from the ground were 

 tapped as follows : — three sets of incisions were opened on each 

 tree, and each set consisted of a centre channel about four feet 

 high (from the ground) and 5 oblique cuts on each side, or 30 ob- 

 lique cuts on each tree — equal to three annual tappings in respect 

 of area of trunk operated on, the three sets being placed round the 

 trunk of the tree so that each set took up rather less than a third 

 of the area of the trunk from the base to the height mentioned, 

 viz.y 4 feet. Each set of incisions was numbered and the result 

 recorded, both trees being tapped alike and in the following 

 manner: — 



