and Magazine of the Ceylon Agricultural Society, 



593 



THE NORTHWAY TAPPING SYSTEM. 



A SERIOUS DISCOVERY. 

 It will be remembered that about six months 

 ago there were rumours that a new system of 

 tapping rubber treos had been discovered, for 

 which there were claimed many advantages over 

 the various styles of tapping then in vogue. 

 The inventor, Mr. Northway, supported by 

 experienced Ceylon planters, stated that it was 

 to be commended for simplicity in working, less 

 likelihood of damage to the tree and increased 

 wmk by the tappers, and these were among the 

 powerful reasons for giving the system an 

 exhaustive trial. 



If there were no other reason, the fact that 

 our rubber estates in the future would, by the 

 new system, require 75 per cent less cooly labour 

 for tapping was in itself a sufficient justilication 

 for the inventor's clever idea being thoroughly 

 exploited ; and we believe that in many in- 

 stances the experiments, which have been made 

 up-to-date, have realised expectations. We have 

 then learnt with more than ordinary regret that 

 the results of trial upon some properties have 

 disclosed drawbacks and disadvantages which 

 appear to imperil the future and assured 

 success of this mode of extracting rubber latex. 



It appears that in certain trees which are 

 exceptionally rich in latex at this season of 

 the year the incisions caused by the pricker 

 close up prematurely, and before the flow 

 of latex from the cambium layer has 

 ceased, with the result that the latex Hows 

 down the tree between the cambium layer 

 and the bark, where it forms a pad of coagu- 

 lated rubber, much resembling a rubber patch 

 which is used for repairing the inner tube of 

 a motor car tyre. This pad swells and causes 

 the bark of the tree to burst away, the pad 

 adhering firmly to the wood, which, with 

 the cambium, becomes discoloured and black, 

 and may prove the fore-runner of decomposi- 

 tion of the wood itself unless the pad of rubber 

 and the bark are carefully removed. 



Perhaps the most peculiar phase of this state 

 of affairs is that these breakaways occur upon a 

 small percentage of trees, and those which are 

 particularly vigorous and robust and growing 

 upon rich, low-lying lands, where undoubtedly 

 the secretion of latex is much greater 

 than upon the hill sides. We may mention 

 that the trees on which this has taken place 

 were pricked about six weeks to two months ago 

 and it is only within the last three weeks that 

 these unfavourable symptoms have developed. 

 We sound this note of warning in order that 

 all rubber planters (and they are many), who 

 are experimenting with the Northway System, 

 may carefully watch their pricked trees ; and — if 

 they have discovered these danger spots of sub- 

 cortical pads of coagulated latex— take such re- 

 medial measures as they may consider necessary. 

 Should this unsatisfactory state of affairs mani- 

 fest itself generally, we fear that the Northway 

 system will stand self-condemned. The occur- 

 rence of these rubber accumulations under the 

 bark would suggest that for any but the slowest- 

 flowing latex-bearers there is the danger of the 



latex not being able to flow sufficiently freely 

 through incisions made by the pricker and that 

 the system is therefore most suitable— or suitable 

 only?— for the youngest trees, where a free flow 

 is not yet fully established, or those few older 

 trees which promise never to give rich yields. 

 The wider incisions of the knife, which, with 

 subsequent paring, have given perfectly re- 

 newed bark, may well — after the above dis- 

 coveries—return again to a popularity which 

 had only been temporarily shaken. 



In conclusion, in reply to Mr. Wiggin, 

 we are quite ready to learn ; but the system 

 has not yet been tried nearly long enough 

 yet for even its warmest advocates to commit 

 themselves wholly either ! And we under- 

 stand the possibility of mistakes through ex- 

 cess of zeal is less with the older systems than 

 with this new one that starts work on three 

 and four-year-old trees in Ceylon. 



I. 



Lindula, May 24th. 

 Sir, — The coagulation of the orifice made by 

 the pricker and sequence as described by your 

 article can simply arise from one thing : in- 

 sufficient spraying— a result that must arise 

 without supervision. Does any one imagine 

 Ramasamy carrying and using water if he can 

 avoid it ? Why he would actually starve him- 

 self if he could exist without the trouble of 

 eating ? It is only hunger that makes self-exer- 

 tion evident. To the present-day cooly work is 

 no pleasure. Neither, since Companies came into 

 existence, does he take any interest in his 

 estate as a domicile. Make and clear is the order 

 of the day as he sees the Agent is to sweat for 

 shareholders, so is his " make for himself." 

 Take private properties now (there are some). 

 The life of the labour force thereon is an Eldo- 

 rado. No impossibilities forced on to the Super- 

 intendents. No impossible estimates to keep up 

 to,and onlydonein many instances attheexpense 

 of the cooly. This is the predominant factor 

 of the discontent and miserable state our labour 

 force has got into, want of sympathy and co- 

 operation. The Straits appear to have learnt 

 their lesson and labour seems to flow over there 

 freely enough. Here, Tempora mutantur et 

 nos mutamur in illis and not to our advantage 

 or welfare. — Yours, &c., 



E. R. WIGGIN. 



[We would be glad to hear a rubber planter 

 on the phenomenon referred to!] 



II. 



MR. NORTHWAY IN REPLY. 



Deviturai, Ambalangoda, May 25th. 

 Sik, — In reference to your article on a defect 

 alleged to result from the new tapping system, 

 I have not a single tree here that shows any 

 signs whatever of any disease since I started 

 new tapping. There is nothing new in pricking. 

 We have used prickers here for the last five years 

 and 50 per cent, of other estates have conti- 

 nuously used them for about that time. — Yours 

 faithfully, 



CHAS. NORTHWAY. 



75 



