403 
Excellent work with regular shavings, as tliin even as 
20-25 to the inch, have been done with the gouge, the i ai- 
rier ’s knife, and with more modern specially adapted tapp- 
it is important to make certain of the periods which 
should be allowed to elapse between tappmgs m order to 
get maximum yields. After having collected figures of 
yields on a large number of estates it is difficult to lay down 
an absolute rule as to the procedure which experience shows 
to be kept data on some estates show that after a 
period of some tlifee months alternate days’ tapping the 
amount of latex per tree decreases to an amount which is 
of less value than the cost of tapping, but after a rest of two 
months the tree again on the fourth or fifth tappmg.yield 
the maximum, which after some 40 tappings Begins to 
rapidly decrease. . . . , » 
The reverse of these observations is to be found on 
other estates where accurate figures of yields show that after 
continuous tapping for some two or three years, the amount 
obtained varies only slightly, never steadily decreasing. 
The variation is caused by climatic conditions, slioit periods 
of little or no rainfall reducing the yield and periods of 
excessive rainfall producing somewhat the same result 
This is due to the relatively less active functioning ot the 
roots owing to drought or excess of water. 
Many planters believe m stopping when the tiees aie 
leafless, a period of some three weeks each year. The ex- 
periments which have been, continuously carried on toi 
some 18 months by this department on ll -year o d trees at 
Krian show a slight decrease of yield during the leafless 
Pell °The notion is also prevalent that tapping should be 
discontinued during the fruit bearing period The figures 
obtained at Krian show a decrease during the tune the tiees 
were in fruit, but no sufficient decrease to seriously increase 
the cost of tapping. The figures relating to these tapping 
experiments will be published in the Agriculture 
letm Careful records have been kept of the weight and bulk 
of latex each day from each tree, and the ensuing weight ot 
dry rubber. . . _ . . . . , « . - 
Tbe question of bow far it is advisable to retrain iiom 
tapping rubber trees after a period of tapping is one upon 
which planting opinion differs very greatly. On some 
estates, after a period of some weeks or months ot tapping, 
V®, 
