Complex sentence: The tapping of the gum is similar to the tapping of latex from the rubber tree: zig-zag gashes are made in the tree trunk and the dripping gum is collected in small bags.
Split into simpler sentences: The tapping of the gum is similar to the tapping of latex from the rubber tree. Zigzag gashes are made in the tree trunk and the dripping gum is collected in small bags.