Part II] 
F. A. Wright : Further Note on Thitsi. 
13 
simplify the introduction of measures to regulate and control Thitsi 
tapping in the unclassed forests. 
The steps which, it is suggested, should be taken to regulate Thitsi 
tapping in unclassed forests are :— 
(i) To divide the Thitsi -bearing unclassed forests into a number 
of tapping circles, each of which should be divided into 
blocks to correspond with the tapping-rotation adopted— 
which should not be less than seven years—and to permit 
tapping only in the block open for the year. The blocks 
will, of course, be open to tapping in rotation. The tapping 
circles should, as far as possible, be so arranged as to 
cause the minimum inconvenience to people of villages 
which practise tapping. 
(ii) To limit the minimum size of the trees to be tapped. Experi¬ 
ments will have to be made in this respect to ascertain the 
girth at which trees can be tapped without seriously affecting 
their growth and productivity. As it will take time to collect 
useful and reliable data, the minimum tapping girth limit 
might be fixed tentatively at 4 feet. 
(Hi) To fix the maximum number of notches which may be made 
on trees of different girth. 
This is another matter which will have to be decided on the results 
of experiments which should be undertaken. As a tentative 
measure, six notches annually may be fixed for trees between 
4 and 5 feet girth, and the number increased relatively for 
trees in the higher girth-classes. 
. (iv) To supplant the present pernicious method, by which pieces 
of bark are entirely removed from the tree during the process 
of notching, by some more rational method of tapping some¬ 
what similar to that followed in the case of rubber. 
Action is also called for to prohibit or, at any rate, reduce the very 
large number of Thitsi trees which are annually destroyed in taungyas — 
areas cleared for purposes of shifting cultivation. 
The measures which, it is suggested above, should be taken to regulate 
Thitsi tapping will have to be introduced gradually, and with tact. 
They cannot be introduced together, nor is it intended that they should. 
The Shans are a most conservative people, and there is no doubt that 
they will resent the introduction of even the most lenient measures 
which might interfere with their long established freedom of action. It 
will be very difficult to make the people understand that it is in their 
own interests that the measures are being introduced, for they are 
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