Gums. Resins. 



106 



Yes, the Scientist admitted, he was really doing it, and getting pretty fair results 

 too. but it was merely an experiment and a practice not adcocaled. 



''I am tapping these trees'* he said presently, "'from base to 10 feet, 

 from 10 feet to 15 feet, from 15 feet to 20 feet, and from 20 feet to 30 

 feet on the herring-bone system, and one tree on the full spiral system is 

 being tapped from the base to 30 feet high. The results are not as yet public, 

 and it is too early to say anything definite as only a little has yet been done, but the 

 results will be published for the information of planters when we have anything 

 definite to go on. But I may say this, that high tapping on Hevea trees is not only 

 absolutely useless on the ordinary plantation iioav being cleared and planted, but 

 even dangerous to the wellfare of trees. It can only be done on such trees as we 

 have here at Henaratgoda, which are unique, and on one or two estates where they 

 have old or very lofty trees, such as Culloden and Kepitigalla, where Mr. Holloway 

 is tapping very lightly up to a certain height. It cannot be done on the ordinary 

 plantation which has to come into bearing in four to six years from planting ; girth 

 should be sought and pollarding tried." 



" This particular tree," he continued, as we grouped round a gigantic-bowled 

 Hevea on which three men were at work shaving the full spirals, " presents rather a 

 curious phenomenon. It yields latex freely, but it won't coalesce, and acid only 

 curdles the milk ; why, 1 have not yet ascertained, but it may be because there is a 

 lack of caoutchouc in the milk ; it will probably recover in time." 



Seeing three men at work on one tree to tap it properly gives some idea of 

 the enormous amount of labour that will be required for the rubber industry in a 

 few years' time if trees are allowed to grow into really large specimens. One cooly 

 per acre will not be the estimate for many years ! The Planter had been trying his 

 hand the previous day at spirally tapping a tree, and with trepidation and fear of 

 caustic criticism he watched us approaching the tree. But the tapping, carried out 

 on theory, was good enough. The Scientist explained, however, that the original 

 channel was too wide. 



"The less bark you remove the better, and the first channel must be as 

 narrow as possible. After the tree is marked out with chalk or tar, where 

 each spiral is to be cut, take your knife like this and gradually work off the 

 bark. All you want to do the first time is to irritate and cut the milk tubes 

 just sufficient to induce a small flow of latex— in fact, it need not even run 

 down but may be all scrap. The flow will increase at each tapping up to about 

 the fourteenth, and until there is wound response much latex must not be 

 expected. But don't cut deep thinking you'll get more flow with the first 

 incision." While talking he had been cutting a neat channel round the tree 

 showing how the work should be done, and the Planter looked on with envious 

 eyes. "Hullo! Hullo! suddenly burst out the Scientist," what have you been 

 doing ! Cutting through a knot ! I thought you'd know better than that. Never 

 cut through a knot in the tapping area ; take your cut round it, even if it 

 alters the parallel of your line, and leave the knot to work itself out, which it 

 will in time." 



Discussing the flow of milk in the spiral system it was explained that 

 it had been proved that, in some countries, the largest quantity of rubber was 

 obtained in the leafless or Avintering stage of the tree. This is due to the fact 

 that there is no enormous transpiration of water going on from the leaves, 

 and it is the same in the early morning before the sun's heat makes the leaves 

 transpire, consequently there is a big flow of latex. 



