2S4 



latex or economy of bark and provided the excising of bark is care- 

 fully done, i. e., the excisions are uniform and not too deep, improve- 

 ment would appear to lie in the direction in which the latex is 

 collected rather than by the method of tapping. To retard the rapid 

 coagulation of latex on a practical basis is a problem which does not 

 admit of an easy solution. 



Basal Excisions. 



Two excisions representing about one half or slightly more of 

 the girth of the tree. The first excision is opened a few inches from 

 the ground upwards at an angle of about 35' and the second 

 excision on the opposite side of the tree is opened in a downward 

 direction or reversed angle thus leaving the maximum space on the 

 opposite sides of the tree between the excisions. As compared with 

 the methods already cited there are two collecting cups against one, 

 while i^he yield of latex is naturally less being two excisions only. It 

 is however a method to be recommended for young trees for the 

 following reasons -quick bark recovery near the base, no distortion 

 of bark; strongest latex ; it can be followed by the single herring- 

 bone without detriment whilst the trees have been increasing in girth. 

 A comparison of the yield of latex with the half herring-bone method 

 is shewn on table 6, but it should be remembered that although the 

 gross yield is less, the weight of dry rubber is higher and as will be 

 seen the yield per excision is more or as already stated the yield of 

 latex is most and best nearest the base of a tree. It should be 

 mentioned, too, that the fall off in the second period of basal tappings 

 (vide Ex. X) is usual in all methods of tapping when there is an interval 

 of rest between tappings. 



TABLE 6. 



No. of 

 trees 

 tapped. 



No. of 

 times 

 tapped. 



Method 



of 

 tapping. 



Total fluid 

 ozs. of latex 

 obtained. 



Ratio of fluid ozs. per excision. 





Experi 



mentlX. 







30 



30 



* Basal 



809 



2 Excisions x 30= 13 ozs. per excision. 



30 



30 

 Experi 



Half 

 Herring 

 Bone. 



ment X. 



1605 



5 „ X30-IO „ 



90 



34 



* Basal 



2411 



2 „ X90-13 „ 



■ 



90 



34 



Half 

 Herring 

 Bone. 



4973 



5 „ X90-II „ 



' Without added water. 



