The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-07-15
TAPPING Eon RussER.
Various Methods IN Different conn-
tries-What SLatex" ls.


The methods Of tapping" to pro-
cure the latex from which caontchouc
or rubber is obtained, are as various
almost as the genera Of trees and
plants yielding 1t.
The latex or milky juice procured
by the various processes of tapping
is composed of caoutchouc in the
form of minute globules, similar to
the butter fat In animal milk ana
other chemical substances, including
resin. The finished rubber command
ing the highest price In the market is
that in which the least quantity of the
substances incompatible with elastic
ity and durability is retained.
This aim, naturally, is more easily
achieved from latex possessing the
least proportion of resin, which sub
stance is insoluble in most liquids,
says the Westminster Gazette, and
is. therefore, with difficulty got rid
of--and the latex in which it is pres
ent in the least quantity is that rem
dered by the Hevea or Para rubber
tree. which contains about 80 per
cent. of rubber.
What is known as "latex" is not,
as might be supposed, synonymous
with sap" Scientists seem not to
have been able to discover yet what
particular function is fulfilled by Tat
ex." It is contained mostly in the
tissue, composed of minute tubes,
forming the middle layer of bark. Its
color varies from pure white to pale
yellow, and when fresh no smell and
very slight taste can be detected.
Tapping, in all cases, consists of
making incisions in the bark sufici-
emily deep to penetrate into the latex
bearing vessels. Deeper wounding,
while yielding no more latex, deter
iorates the quality of it by allowing
the Suice of the wood to mix with it,
and interferes with the growth of the
tree by arresting the upward flow of
sap.
There is no hard and fast rule OBJ
served as to how old tree should be
before tapping is commenced. Usu-
ally, however, tree is not tapped
much before it is six or seven years
old, as the latex obtained from young
trees and plants is found to be less
pure than that from the older and
more mature trees. A series OF tap
pings made once. or If the previous
wounds have healed, twice in a year,
is not too frequent for the preserva-
ton Of the tree in a healthy condi-
ton.
Where a systematic series Of tap
pings of the Para rubber tree are
made the incisions are kept open for
some time, the yield increasing stead
lily daily until a maximum is reached
in a period varying from three to
fourteen days, when the flow as
gradually decreases, until, If more is
wanted, fresh incisions have to be
made elsewhere in the bark. The
latex is caught generally in small
cups or tins -usually capable of
holding about six ounces of liquid
afixed to the tree beneath the Incl
sions.
In the valley of the Amazon the
tree there indigenous is tapped often
for six months continuously, being al
lowed the same period to recuperate
in. The method of tapping there is
by making simple upward incision
in the bark. The flow Of latex is
always more abundant in wet wealth
err The usual yield at one tapping
of the Para rubber tree Is about six
ounces of latex. The process of tap
ping in general use on the Para es-
tates, In the Malay Peninsula. is
known as the herring BONE" the
length Of the bone" and the number
Of oblique cribs" varying according
to the size Of the tree.
In Ceylon row Of v shaped Incl
sions, about six inches long, is made
about six feet from the ground. In
West Africa the natives cut long per-
pendicular channels in the bark, with
smaller transverse ones leading into
it. Less quantity of latex. rather
than more, is yielded by tapping the
trees high up. "Ceara" rubber. de-
rived from the Manihot. a native tree
of the province of Ceara, in Brazil, is
left to coagulate on the trees.
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