254 
latex or economy of bark and provided the excising of bark is care- 
fully done, i. e., the excisions are uniform and not too deep, improve- 
ment would appear to lie in the direction in which the latex is 
collected rather than by the method of tapping. To retard the rapid 
coagulation of latex on a practical basis is a problem which does not 
admit of an easy solution. 
Basal Excisions. 
Two excisions representing about one half or slightly more of 
the girth of the tree. The first excision is opened a few inches from 
the ground upwards at an angle of about 35 and the second 
excision on the opposite side of the tree is opened in a downward 
direction or reversed angle thus leaving the maximum space on the 
opposite sides of the tree between the excisions. As compared with 
the methods already cited there are two collecting cups against one, 
while the yield of latex is naturally less being two excisions only. It 
is however a method to be recommended for young trees for the 
following reasons : — quick bark recovery near the base, no distortion 
of bark ; strongest latex ; it can be followed by the single herring- 
bone without detriment whilst the trees have been increasing in girth. 
A comparison of the yield of latex with the half herring-bone method 
is shewn on table 6, but it should be remembered that although the 
gross yield is less, the weight of dry rubber is higher and as will be 
seen the yield per excision is more or as already stated the yield of 
latex is most and best nearest the base of a tree. It should be 
mentioned, too, that the fall off in the second period of basal tappings 
(vide Ex. X) is usual in all methods of tapping when there is an interval 
of rest between tappings. 
TABLE 6. 
No. of 
trees 
tapped. 
No. of 
times 
tapped. 
! Method 
of 
tapping.! 
Experi 
men t IX. 
30 
30 
* Basal 
30 
30 
Half 
Herring 
Bone. 
Experi! 
ment X. 
90 
34 1 
* Basal 
90 
34 1 
Half 
Herring 
Bone. 
Total fluid 
ozs.oflatex Ratio of fluid ozs. per excision, 
obtained. 
S09 2 Excisions x 30= 13 ozs. per excision. 
1605 5 „ x3o = io „ 
2411 2 
x 90 - 13 „ 
4973 
x 90 = 1 1 
Without added water. 
