March 1907.] 



189 



ALOE VERA. 



Dear Sir,— This plant (known to the Sinhalese as Koinarika), is much 

 employed in native medicine, and may frequently be seen growing in utensils 

 attached to travelling carts, together with Plectranthus aromaticus. Its value in 

 English medicine is of course as the source of the drug " Aloes." 



When in Bangalore last December I saw this or a closely-related species of 

 Aloe suspended at the entrance to the dwelling apartments in the Maharaja of 

 Mysore's palace, with the object, as I was informed, of keeping away mosquitoes. 

 Colombo. Yours truly, 



C. DRIEBERG. 



THE INVERTED V SYSTEM OF TAPPING. 

 Dear Sir,— That the half -herring bone half of the stem. 



system of tapping out of the several 

 systems is largely in use and very much 

 in favor goes without saying; but it 

 requires some modification, and in its 

 modified form I call it the "Inverted V 

 System." Its advantages and sketch will 

 be found herewith, which, I think, will be 

 of some interest to those who prefer the 

 half -herring bone system of tapping. 



Yours faithfully, 

 T. L. SRINIVASAGAM. 

 Neboda, February 16th. 



Merits and Advantages of the 

 Inverted V or Modified Half-Herring 

 Bone System of Tapping. 



1. Serves the same purpose as the half- 

 herring bone system. 



2. Only requires two vertical channels 

 instead of four as with half-herring bone. 



3. Incisions being shorter than half 

 spiral, latex runs into the channel more 

 easily, consequently less scrap. 



4. Prevents the cooly from tapping more 

 area on the stem of the tree than allotted. 



5. The tapping knife is used both ways, 

 right and left, and both the cutting edges 

 are in use resulting in uniform wearing 

 away of the edges ; consequently the tapp- 

 ing knife can be used for a longer time than 

 is possible with one side tapping either 

 right or left. 



6. Like the half spiral, the inverted 

 V leaves half of the stem untouched for 

 future use. 



