e first is that employed in South America, where incisions are made by means of a light axe. T

outward and visible signs of that method. At a comparatively early stage, however, the method of excision was introduced. Curiously enough there appears to be no record of its inception or of the individu

hen known as the "paring and pricking" method; but the simple operation of pricking alone had its adherents, and various forms of instruments were designed to achieve the object. As a

ised, but a pricking instrument was used along the previously cut surface. It was not proved that any advantage was gained by this

is practised in such a manner that the "cut

pward direction, thus obtaining a greater pressure of latex-and hence a greater flow. It will be obvious that it would be no simple matter to collect effectively the latex thus obtained from the under edge

o rapid. It was then thought necessary to place upon the trees a number of simultaneous cuts which the modern planter would judge to be inconceivably e

in a herring-bone fashion, and sometimes divided into two portions, each of which tapped the opposite qua

mmencing at a height of, say, 5 feet, and gradual

ped either daily, or on alternate days, to cases in which one-third or one-fifth of the tree was

simultaneous parings from the same panel of bark, the rate of excision was so heavy th

d the tendency has since been to reduce the number of cuts, or the perio

, while with older bark on some estates periods of ten and twelve years have to be allowed for full renewal. Even so no finality has been reached, and no general rule can be laid down. Local conditions of p

ost popular syste

quarter of the tr

third of the tr

he circumference, tap

he circumference, tap

and ext

quarter, tapped o

on a half, t

be explained that as a rule the former system is practised on old trees with poorly renewed bark, in order to allow for adequate bark

rter Circumferenc

ny system employing superimposed cuts leads to a high consumption of bark without proportionate increase in yield. For instance, if one compares the system of two cuts on a quarter tapped daily with a similar system employing only one cut, o

ey dealt with systems which were then popular. In order to obtain any valid result they had to be undertaken over a long period. Meantime there was a pr

d a small number of blocks, from which any conclusions derived were subject to considerable errors of experiment. Often comparisons were made between only two blocks, and no allowance was made for varying facto

sociation. In this instance unique facilities were provided by the London Asiatic Rubber Company on their property at

aking comparative tests based on one system of tapping with different frequencies. Such data were required as a check upon a Ceylon tapping experiment which had attracted much attention. In that experiment trees were tapped at interv

Quarter Circumfere

Renew

emporary vogue-viz., two superimposed cuts on a quarter of the tree. The various

a period of three and a half years' continuous tapping neither the alternate-day system nor

m these systems over the whol

o Days. T

60 per cent.

r of the other sections showed any appreciable imp

lternate-day and the third-day divisions showed advantages

cut on a quarter, tapped daily. This enabled direct comparison between the values of one cut and two

obtained by tapping two cuts daily; and that in the comparison between two cuts tapped alternat

two cuts daily that the influence on yields of the superimposed cut is relatively small. A fairer comparison would have been obtained if the two cuts tapped alternate-daily had been either amalgamated to form one long cut on half the tree or to form a V on half the tree, thus placing the cuts in the opp

alf Circumferen

the cut is changed to the opposite

nt under strict conditions. It is true that the view is held strongly in some quarters as a result of the experience of

the disciples of these schools are really discussing different matters. In the case of managers who argue for alternate-daily tapping their experience is gained, with very few exceptions, from systems in which the excision covers half the circumference of the tree; whereas in almost all cases daily tapping is confined to a single cut on a quarter of the g

will yield more than an exactly similar cut tapped daily. In support of such a statement there does not appear to be any confirmation under normal conditions; although such a result might be obtained in the case of old trees which have been heavily over-tapped in the past, and on which the r

e form of one long cut or in the form of a V-we arrive at a contrast which gives a clear issue. As already stated, facts and figures of reliable experiment are wanting; but it is the opinion and experien

Half the Ci