loG 
and  liad  a girth  of  41  inches.  In  1901  there  were  13 1 of  these 
trees  standing,  measuring  from  50  to  65  feet  high,  and  31  to  53 
inches  in  circumference,  breast  high.  Their  (Towns  form  sufficient 
shade  to  prevent  tlie  growth  of  weeds,  though  the  ground  is  spaded 
u|)  every  year.  A second  j^lanting  was  made  in  the  garden  jn 
March,  1888,  wlien  56  seedlings  were  set  out  lyi  feet  apart.  A 
marked  difference  in  the  size  of  these  trees  is  now  apparemt,  those 
standing  near  a lajie  being  much  larger  and  more  thrifty  than  those 
further  from  the  open  space,  though  Dr.  Spirk  fails  to  mention 
the  character  of  the  growth,  if  any,  in  contacA  with  the  smaller 
trees.  These  trees  range  from  32 ^ to  40  feet  in  height,  d'he  same 
conditions  apply, to  a third  planting  made  in  1889. 
In  May,  1901,  Dr.  Van  Rombukgh  caused  some  of  the  above 
Castilloa  trees  to  be  tapped,  'for  the  benefit  of  Dr.  SpiRH.  The 
Malays  use  for  this  purpose  an  imphnnent  similar  to  a butcher’s 
cleaver,  with  which  gashes,  5 to  8 centimeters^  2 to  3g:  inches 
long,  and  about  5 millimeters=:4  inch  deej),  are  cut  in  the  bark, 
obliquely,  on  opposite  sides,  and  converging  to  a common  line, 
from  which  the  latex  may  be  gathereck  The  cutting  extends  up 
the  trunk  as  high  as  3 to  4 meters.  Two  of  the  trees  had  been 
bled  before,  and  the  resulting  scars  were  so  thick  that  they  inter- 
fered with  the  fresh  tapping,  but  at  least,  150  gashes  were  cut  in 
those  two  trees  that  day.  The  sap  flowed  freely  into  a tin  pail 
supported  by  a hook  beneath  the  lowest  cut,  and  to  provide  against 
any  loss,  large  banana  Daves  were  placed  at  the  base  of  the  trunk 
to  catch  any  sap  that  might  go  astray.  The  latex  was  at  times 
very  white  and  again  of  a brownish  cast,  wliile  some  incisions 
brought  out  only  a blackish  humor  which  exuded  very  slowly.  The 
flow  did  not  appear  to  depend  upon  which  side  the  tree  was  cut. 
The  pails  of  latex,  together  with  what  was  collected  on  the 
banana  leaves,  were  taken  to  the  laboratory  and  kneaded  in  water, 
next  passed  over  a fine  copper  sieve,  and  then  put  away  to  settle. 
In  time  the  rubber  floated,  the  remaining  watery  material  being 
drawn  off  from  the  bottom  from  day  to  day.  At  the  end  of  the 
eight  day  the  cake  of  rubber  was  removed  and  placed  under  a 
press  to  remove  any  remaining  water.  Returning  to  the  field  on 
the  day  following  the  tapping,  the  man  in  charge  collected  from 
the  wounds  on  the  trunks  any  shreds  of  rubber  that  had  resulted 
from  the  spontaneous  coagulation  of  latex,  ^\■hich,  when  cleaned, 
were  as  valuable  as  that  prepared  mechanically. 
In  general  practice  the  collection  of  latex  is  performed  wholly 
l)v  Malays,  an  overseer  assigning  to  each  worker  a certain  number 
oi'  trees  which  he  must  visit  each  day.  At  least  j catty  = about 
I lb.  of  Caoutchouc  must  be  driivered  dally,  for  which  the  worker 
is  paid  IOC.  gold,  without  regard  to  the  hours  of  labour.  'Fhe  men 
are  wati'hed  close! v to  prevent  the  reckless  tapping  of  the  tree 
and  their  ultimate  destruction.  Wdum  brought  to  the  factory  the 
latex  is  cleansed  by  women  in  running  water,  then  exposed  to  the 
air,  but  in  'the  shade,  for  three  or  four  days  to  dry,  and  linally 
sacked  for  shipment.  The  cost  of  collecting,  cleansing,  drying  and 
sacking,  amounts  to  about  3 florins  a picul  =.Si .21  for  132  lbs. 
