( 226 ) 
TAPPING IN RUBBER TREES. 
(Plate IV .) 
We give in this number a photograph of a tree which shows 
herring-bone tapping scars of three dates. The tree in the 
Botanic Gardens of Singapore was planted about 1886, and is 
thus nineteen years old. It is one of a row of trees planted 
about 6 feet apart, but having no trees on either side of the row, 
and so a fair space and plenty of light to grow in has attained 
a large size. The front herring-bone tapping was made last year, 
and the one on the right as you face the tree some years .pre- 
viously. That on the left was the earliest. It will be seen how 
easily the side cuts of the herring-bone of the second tapping 
can be made to alternate with those of the first years. The tree 
for tapping purposes has practically four sides, and is best tapped 
in the following order, first year, front; second year, back; third 
year, right side (between the last two); fourth year, left side; fifth 
year, front again. By this time the first tapping will have long 
been covered with a layer of wood and bark, usually showing 
only an outline on the bark of where it was tapped before. The 
healing up of the tapping wounds rapidly is a thing to be desired. 
It usual!}- takes about three months for a tap cut to heal 
over, but much depends on the weather. If the weather is 
dry the growth of the new bark is much slower than in the wet 
weather. 
WASHED RUBBER. 
By P. J. Burgess, 
The response which has been made by the manufacturers to 
the request for criticism of the proposal to wash and clean 
plantation rubber on the plantation as part of the routine of 
preparation is most gratifying, showing as it does that the idea 
is being fairly considered, and promising to Feat the matter on 
its own merits. . / 
A reference to the “India-rubber Journal ” for 13th February, 
will show that the first experimental washing machine in the 
East was working in August, 1904, at the Argi-Horticultural 
Show at Kuala Lumpur. 
Since then several of these machines have been established 
on different plantations, but the output of rubber has, up to the 
present time, been small, the plantations being young, and 
extensive tapping only just commencing. 
On Lowlands Estate, however, the machine has been in 
constant daily use for several months; and a large and an increas- 
ing amount of rubber is being turned out in the clean, dry, 
washed condition, small samples of which have already been sent 
to England. 
