e no known knife has such apparent outstanding superior features or claims as would enable one to settle the point. Moreover, the

te at the present time as it was some years ago. Meanwhile the search for that ideal knife continues, and occasionally one learns of the alleged merits of some new instrument which, it

types of tapping knives may amount to a hal

uge-straig

inary farri

the farrier's knife,

e leverage being downwards on the handle, the tendency is to lift the cutting edge upwards and out of the bark, whereas with a straight gouge the tendency is to push the knife do

rally accepted without great argument, but when comparisons are made between the gouge and the farrier's knife (with its modifications) the opinions of plan

roposed change creates in the minds of coolies a prejudice which is considerable in effect on the quality of the handicraft. Such prejudice may be overcome in course of time, but in the interval not a little damage may have been done in the shape of tapping wounds. So considerable is

y screws, or nuts and bolts, etc. Some knives of this description really merit a much wider use than is afforded them at present; but

attributed to them they will soon find favour, as managers are always keen on studying the points of any new knife which will lead to a conservation of bark and a reduction in

in all details of estate work, and the younger generation of planters could scarcely be aware that a few

croscopic projection served as a point around which latex coagulated. Scrapping the film of interior rubber became more and more difficult, and often the cups were burnt in order to get rid of the accumulation of rubber. The last

agraph. On many estates, however, they are used with success, the usual method of treatment being to make the coolies bring them into the store

, percentage of breakage in transport and in the field, price when breakage is taken into account, etc.; but these apart the glass cups have one advantage-namely, the ability of the superintendents to see whether the c

Two-Fifths of

ifths. Subsequent cuts occup

are employed, the cup fitting into a loop placed beneath the spout. Used on the ground its shape is an obvious disadvantage, as, unless a hole i

h the half-spherical cup, is diminished, and that if the cups when not in use are kept inverted upon sticks placed near the foot of the tree the breakage is apt to be high. This latter objectio

in comparison with glass and white-ware cups, but it is a pity that the glass does not extend over the whole of the cup. The outer surface has a tendency to collect rubber and dirt. O

anagers, especially where a mixed labour force is employed. Tamil coolies can be made to clean their cups in the day's task and at o

p and added these rinsings to the latex collected. The cup was next washed hastily in the bucket of water and replaced. By the time the coolie has emptied and washed some 200 cups (about half the task generally) the water has the consistency of dilute latex, and the w

ured into the latex-bucket, and the bulk of the latex film remaining is also removed by the aid of a finger. The cup is then replaced, a thin skin of rubber forming on the interior surface. As a general

e collection of the latex. The employment of special coolies for cup-washing would be necessitated, such as may be seen sometimes on estates working Chinese "squatter" labour-where the man taps, a child assists in collecting, and another child, or the mother, washes the cups. It ma

umber of trees to tap. Furthermore, on hilly areas under tapping, it is often manifestly unfair to expect the tapper to be able to

ument concerning the two methods, and that the point must be dec

newed Bark of P

surface and

ting coagulation) led to much abuse, apart from the question as to the utility of the method. Dirty water was often used, although clean water may have been placed in the buckets when coolies left the muster-ground. The small

Showing the Ef

pp

cup or bucket is at least not diminished by the addition of even clean water. The use of water often obtained from estate drains clearly le

portant item often overlooked, and involving the pre

atic con

volume of f

ng the length of interval between t

rsed between the site of

cting, to exclude

agitation of the latex to

soil, and situat

greatest effect is remarked on estates situated on the flat lands of the coastal area where peaty soils are a feature. On many such estates, in spite of the observance of al

ti-coagulants is common. The effect of these is to keep the latex liquid and thus render possibl

pular as it is slightly cheaper and much more stable. As now used, it is in the form of an easily soluble powder (anhydrous sodium sulphite). The ordinary

l quantities of sodium sulphite solution to all coolies irrespective of the ages of the trees in the fields to be tapped. Thus it happened that the latex from one field was found to have insufficient anti-coagulant present, while that from another field could only be coagulated by the addition of an excess of acid. In this matter the experience of the preliminary trials should have caused some discrimination to be exercised as

ield, the following formula, which is in

of Sodium Sulphi

m sulphite in water at the r

r a task of 350 trees. The solution is used by shaking a few drops into the cup or, dil

Effect of "

tead the anti-coagulant is placed in the bottom of the bucket prior to the commencement of collection.

of Young Lea

namel chips easily, and that the handles are too frail in construction. The shoulder-pieces, to which the handles are joined, are often too lightly attached to the bucket. Something stouter in the shape of enamelled ware is required, w

ouldy Rot." Effects o

tapping; a hopeless position. (b) The present cut

ouldy Rot." Effects o

uarters. Note wounds due, apparently, to ba

tice have sometimes been noticed. As an example might be quoted an instance in which premature coagulation was found to take place to a surprising degree. It was discovered eventually that the coolies (Javanese in this case) were in the habit of utilis

y funnel shape. This is inverted during collection,

f payment by result, that the personal equation of the tapper is a very important factor. A good skilled tapper will always obtain a higher yield than an ordinary individual from the same task of trees, and without any more injury to the trees. It is argued, therefore, that such an operative should be given the benefit of his skill. Apart from this, it

, of course, depends upon the amount and quality of the supervision possible, and upon the standard demanded. It is a notable fact, however, that on estates which first introduced the system some years ago the quality of the tapping compares favourably with that of average estates, and in a few instances within the ex

ation in respect of the rate per pound paid for the rubber obtained. Again, on very hilly land it may be not humanly possible for a worker to tap the usual number of trees. Hence to place him on a parity with other tappers, as far as wage-earning capacity is concerned, a higher rate than ordinary must

ower the average yield the higher the rates to be paid per pound. Thus, on low-yielding properties where the natur

ubber brought in by individual tappers va

y measuring or by weighing), a sample is drawn, and the final

ding of the dry rubber content of the latex, obtained by means of an instrument

me such method of checking the yields of individual coolies, as the observed results act as a great d

ed. On most estates, where the labour is Tamil or Javanese, it is supposed to be removed as fully as possible before the tapping cut is reopened. The narrow strips are then placed in a bag or basket carried by the tapper. Chinese tappers usually decline to follow this practi

ory experiments with normal latex, it was found possible to reproduce this darkening due to oxidation by the addition of very small quantities of various phenols used in general chemical processes, and the rapidity with which the darkening was effected depended upon the quantity of th

compares well with other and better-looking grades care should be exercise

should not be allowed to remain in the sun (which induces "tackiness"), and if they have to be kept over night they may be placed in a weak solution (1 per cent.) of sodium

from the peculiar systems of working which seem to pertain to Chinese labour. Granted that the trees are well "scrapped," and that the percentage of rubber obtained from shavings under such circumstances would be extremely small (say 2 per cent. by weight on the total output), it does not need much calculation to see that annua

t developed in these piles of shavings is so considerable that it is impossible to keep the hand in a heap for more than a second or two. Should this be allowed

rs or proper tanks in which the shavings may be soaked in wat

s of allowing coolies to keep bark-shavings in their "lines" until they have accumulated a fair quantity c

ely repay the cost of collection and working. In actual practice, however, it is not possible to guarantee that the shavings are free from some scrap-rubber. Shavings brought in by Tamils and

lly designed for removing the bark from the rubber-and if they functi

ee. Theoretically, if proper precautions are observed, the amount should be comparatively s

h the spouts of trees which contin

of latex at too

per to ensure the flow of latex, b

e edge of the cut before it

olume of rainwater down the tree is suf

comparison with other estates. The ground at the base of the tree below the latex-spout is systematically turned over with pointed sticks and large clots of rubber are often picked up. Here, again, it is advised that the collecte