66 
case, no doubt the} Fiddlewood tree was taking too much water 
from the ground and not leaving enough for the Para tree. Acci- 
dental circumstances must be taken into account when a tree 
refuses to milk properly ft may not be the fault of the tree itself 
as much as the fault of the environment. 
M. Tromp DE Haas ill speaking of a small tree which gave 
actually more latex than a big one, states that this tree which was 
■* the same age as the big pne. was arrested in growth, and says that 
if the Heveas are cultivated properly we should be able to obtain 
only large trees. The Editor of the Journal writes in a foot note that 
it would be evidently preferable to have a large number of small 
trees than a small number of large ones. This is however not in ac- 
cordance with the facts shewn in the last report of the Gardens on 
rubber tapping, the proportion of rubber per unit of bark and the 
weight of the rubber being greater in large than small trees. 
The system of tapping adopted by M. Tromp DE Haas, is differ- 
ent from any of the usual forms. A tree is marked out with 4 vertical 
grooves, and a row of cuts seven in number made at right angles 
to each groove, on one side only. At the second collecting period 
similar cuts are made on the other side of each vertical groove 
meeting those of the first tapping in a V shape. A cup is put under 
every alternate cut. The third tapping is made under the first set 
of cuts, the fourth under the second series. The first cuts are made 
with a gouge, and opened 10 to 15 times with a concave chisel. 
The cuts are made down to the wood. The cups used are conic in 
shape, and a little water is put in to prevent coagulation. The rest 
of the system is much the same as- that in common use, except that 
the biscuits are dried at first with the aid of heat, and rolled with 
the now out of date rolling pin. The biscuits before exporting are 
rubbed with a little alcohol to remove any moisture. 
Results are not given, but one would be inclined to think that 
the more modern systems of tapping would give a larger result. 
The Author says in a note that he hears that in an estate at 500 
metres altitude the latex will not coagulate with acetic acid and has 
to be smoked. This sounds remarkable but one would like more 
information on rubber at high altitudes. 
He also states that unsmoked Para rubber does not vulcanize as 
easily as smoked wild rubber according to manufacturers, who, it 
appears, suggest that the plantation rubber shou-ld be smoked. 
Plantation rubber from old trees here has been perfectly vulcanized 
by Mr. BuRGESS, I believe, without previous smoking. 
It would be easy enough to smoke the rubber as indeed was first 
done by many rubber makers, but the smoked rubber fetched a 
slightly lower price than unsmoked. Smoking rubber was found 
to hasten drying and prevent the growth of mould and if it was 
preferred by manufacturers, it would be very satisfactory for planters 
who would save time and money by it. 
H. N. R. 
