( 11 ) 
of the tree, each strip being about four inches in 
width. The cut should reach the inner layer of 
the bark, but should not penetrate the wood. The 
regulation of the depth of the cut is difficult owing 
to variations in the thickness of the bark and the 
the impossibility of complete supervision. As the 
tapping is not confined to that part of the tree which 
is near the ground, ladders are necessary, and the 
tapper is usually working in an uncomforable and 
strained position, so that some latitude must be 
allowed both in the placing of the cuts, and in the 
depth to which they penetrate. The greater portion 
of the latex coagulates in the cuts, but some of it 
may run down the lateral into the vertical cuts 
where it is collected by means of a small tin cup 
stuck into the bark. The cups are put into the bark 
at intervals as may be found necessary. In the 
case of P. oBlongifolium cups of two inches in 
diameter and one and a half inches deep are large 
enough. P. obovatum flows more freely and in 
greater quantities, and therefore requires larger 
cups. When collecting the gutta from the cuts, the 
tapper scrapes out a small quantity with his knife 
and works it into a ball: this ball is then pressed 
into the cut and rolled along it, collecting gutta as 
it goes after the manner of a snowball. Having 
been rolled along several cuts, the ball assumes the 
shape of a flat disc, the gutta being always collected 
on the edge. The same disc may be used until it 
gets too wide at the edge to fit into the cuts, when 
a new one is started. Gutta is collected several 
times at one tapping from the same cut. Each time 
the ball or disc is rolled along the cut, the removal 
of the gutta re-opens the cut ends of the latex tubes, 
**-4*h>° 
