401 



There are various difficulties attending the treatment 

 of Fieus in regard to pruning it or allowing it to form its 

 aerial roots unchecked, in relation to tapping and prevent- 

 ing of entrance of boring insects and fungi into the wounds ; 

 also the direction and shape of the branches and steins 

 make the collection of latex no easy matter. The yields of 

 dry rubber from rambong are larger than from Para and 

 market prices excellent. The symmetrical stem of the 

 Para, the facilities for running the latex into the single cup 

 at the base of the tree, regularity of its growth and its re- 

 action to a wound, have especially commended this tree to 

 the rubber grower, so that rambong is no longer considered 

 as an alternative on equal terms, and no further estates 

 have been planted with the native plant, From a practical 

 planter's point of view this choice must perhaps be con- 

 sidered wise, but it is to be regretted that a tree yielding so 

 well and suited to local conditions should have been entirely 

 abandoned. 



I have been carrying on experiments for some two 

 years past in regard to the proper methods and instruments 

 for tapping Ficus elastica (Rambong), and consider that 

 a rotary pricker in which the pins are at such a distance 

 apart that the latex which runs from the puncture joins that 

 from those adjoining is a more practical way of extracting 

 the latex than the making of a cut with a knife. If the 

 rubber which flows from the various punctures made with 

 the roller pricker all over the surface of the stem and 

 branches is pulled off directly it has coagulated, it will be 

 found that the flow will occur again and a second crepe-like 

 film of coagulated latex can be pulled off. The absence of 

 wound prevents the attack of borers and the tree can be 

 again pricked after a short time has elapsed. When the 

 flow from the punctures is too great to allow of it coagulat- 

 ing and it runs down, it can be caught at the base of the 

 tree by means of a rubber band or a metal ledge round the 

 tree to lead the latex into a cup or other receptacle. 



If a flow of latex is preferred to the crepe-like scrap 

 I have described, then an application of water by a brush 

 or spray will run the latex down to the base of the tree 

 where it can be caught. 



These questions are, however, becoming of minor im- 

 portance in the Federated Malay States, as the passing of 

 Ficus elastica lias begun, and each year sees less of this 

 interesting and profitable tree cultivated. On some estates 

 the trees are being actually cut out to make way for its more 

 desired rival, Para. 



