Gums, Resins, 



lti 



Mr. Harries :— You get a second lot by pricking ? 

 Mr- Wright :— Yes. 



Mr- Hunt :— What is the actual function of latex in rubber ? 

 Mr. Wright :— Ask me another. (Laughter.) 

 Mr- Hunt : — Why does it rush to the wound ? 



Mr. Wright :— It has been suggested that it may prevent insects getting in. 

 It is, however, a minor point. Think how many plants at home and abroad grow 

 without laticif erous tubes ? Most people have concluded that latex acts more as 

 a water storehouse than anything else. If it had any important functions, you 

 would expect that after you had taken 25 lb. of rubber from one tree, it would show 

 some bad signs. 



the quality op rubber. 



Mr. Hunt— asked if they tapped every third day, although they might not 

 get the same quantity, did he think they [would get a better quality ? Did not the 

 extra time allow the latex to mature ? 



Mr. Wright :— It would not be sufficiently prominent to influence the present 

 market value of rubber. I do not think any difference would occur which would 

 be capable of being detected by the man who buys the rubber. 



Mr. Hunt :— The injured rubber would travel up slower through the bark 

 than if you were tapping every day. You would get a bigger percentage of rubber 

 than water ? 



Mr. Wirght :— We have been working out the quantity of rubber per known 

 volume of latex from trees tapped for the first time, and mere often than not the 

 first tapping gives 50 per cent of water. In some case tapping the renewed bark we 

 have got 90 per cent of water, and in most places— in the areas most frequently 

 tapped— the percentage of water increased. You would expect that the water 

 simply filters through one cell to another. Our experiments prove, as far as we have 

 gone— they may be entirely contradicted afterwards— that we have got better 

 results in weight of rubber for a given time and for a unit of excision by tapping 

 every alternate day. 



Mr. Hunt :— By tapping, you mean any method of extracting rubber; 



Mr. Wright : — It is merely a question of opening the milk tubes. We have 

 up to the present got the best results from tapping every alternate day. 



A POINT ON PRUNING. 



The Chairman :— How would you prune a tree 18 months old and 20 feet high ? 



Mr. Wright :— We are using American pruners. The length of the pruner 

 is about the same as the wall of this building. The cooly reaches to the top of the 

 20 feet and he just cuts off the top. You cannot do the real true thumb-nail pruning 

 in that way. 



Mr. Smith :— Would you cut it down to 15 feet? 



Mr. Wright :— No. You want to leave plenty of green stem so that lateral 

 branches may arise. It is too late to prune if you let the trees grow to a certain 

 height without sacrificing the whole principle. In your case I should be inclined 

 to cut the terminal part away with just a few leaves. 



Mr. Smith :— I have pleasure in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. 

 Wright for the most interesting lecture he has given us today. Mr. Wright is, 

 unfortunately, unable to come round our estates this visit ; but I hope he will be 

 down again shortly and spend two or three days in the district. We will be able 

 to show him some very fine properties, I think. (Applause.) 



The vote of thanks was accorded with much heartiness.— Ceylon Observer. 



