31 
The results of the tappings here show a much more marked 
variation than those on Block A. The average of five days continuous 
tappings with suitable intervals gave the following : 
1st five days average from 49 trees, 146 units. 
2nd „ „ 
3rd jj j) 
■») 
During the third experiment the trees were in the middle of 
wintering. 
The average yield of the first two experiments gives 155 units as 
in Block A, the average over 10 days of the best yielder was 771 
units, and of the worst yielder only 31 units. Twenty-three trees 
gave yields above the average and 26 below the average. The daily 
yields of the best milker were as follows : 501, 858, 810, 901, 849, 
754, 669, S30, 905 and 634. Daily yields of the lowest yielder were : 
11, 26, 25, 7, 17, 10, 30, 52, 36, 89. ‘ 
It will be seen from these figures that the yields from both best 
and worst milkers are fairly steady. Such variations as are shown 
being easily accounted for by climatic conditions. In no instance 
has it yet been found that a tree yields heavily one day and poorly 
on another^ Assumiug that the seed had been properly selected from 
the best milkers in Block A and that each tree gave a yield equal to 
the average yield of the best 23 trees — i.e ., 252 units per tree, the 
output per acre would be increased by over 60 per cent. 
Even allowing that trees vary in their yields very considerably 
during the course of a year, it is difficult to suppose that the 
variation is as great as the differences between the best and worst 
milkers. 
It will be noticed that the averages in Block A of the best and 
worst milkers are 281 and 75, respectively, against 252 and 73 of 
those on Block B, or a slight reduction in the following generation. 
While I am well aware that the figures quoted cannot by any 
means be called conclusive, as the experiments have only been carried 
on during a short period of time, 1 do think they are convincing 
enough to call for a thorough investigation under strict scientific 
control. I may also add that I am going to continue to lake records 
of these trees for at least twelve months, when 1 hope to be able to 
publish the results. 
If a ease can be made yut to support the suggested degeneration 
of our stock what is to be done in the matter ? T wo alternatives 
seem to suggest themselves. Firstly, seed can be taken from trees 
that have been proved good milkers through a sufficiently long 
period of testing, and planted out in a clearing completely isolated 
from any chance of cross-fertilization from outside trees. When 
these trees are tappable, careful records of their milking capacity, 
resistance to disease, etc., should be kept over another sufficiently 
6139 
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