Evening star., 1922-01-29

Tapping a rubber tree is an art
that requires delicate touch and
sure hand. Contrary to general
opinion, rubber is not the sap Of the
rubber tree. but is fluid called
'latex" found between the corky out
er bark and the hard. thin inner tis-
sue that incases the wood.
BY tapping is meant the cutting of
the tree so that its lateX will exude
and be caught in a cup properly
placed. The amount of latex secured
and the welfare Of the tree depend
upon the proper tapping.
One OF the best methods of tapping
has been found to be a diagonal cut
extending a third Of the way around
the tree. These cuts are made with
a razor-like knife Of special construc-
ton. whose blade is so thin that
twenty tappings may be made side by
side in an inch Of bark. Z.
II the cut Is not sufficiently deep.
full quota of latex Is not obtained,
and IL the cut Is too deep the tree is
injured and its tender exposed parts
are susceptible to disease infection.
II too wide a cut Is made. valuable
bark is wasted. Tapping is therefore
entrusted with it announces himself
as a Taper with some pride.
Days OF Rest Beneficial
The latex does not flow through the
tree like sap, but Is found in cells
Tapping In most localities may be
done daily. but not to such an extent
that the vitality of the tree will be
weakened. Trees that have been over
tapped for time show response to a
few days Of rest.
On the great plantation of the
United States Rubber Company in
Sumatra-so vast in extent that close
to twenty thousand persons are en-
gage,l in working tit has been
found that Javanese women arc
among the best tappers. Chinese
laborers are numerous in that sec
tion of the country. and many find
employment on the plantation, but as
a rule find it difficult to perform the
delicate tapping operation. Javanese
men are more suited to tapping work
than the Chinese. but the Javanese
women are generally considered the
best Of all.
1T is in the heavy work of clearing
the jungle for planting that the
is usually done by contractors. who
employ Chinese to large extent.
The trees and underg1owth are
| usually cut down in the wet season.
inc uepElS DelnS plleQ up ready Tor
burning when the dry season sets in
Taking out the stumps and digging
drainage bitches are counted as part
of the clearing operation.
When the ground has been cleared
the surface is worked over a number
of times with a tool called "chan-
kol," shaped much like an adze. Then
the trees are planted in rows usually
IN the form of small seedlings, from
100 to 200 being planted to the acre.
Battle With Weeds.
To keep down the weeds is one Of
the great problems on the plantation.
In the moist, tropical regions weeds
grow at pace that would discourage
New England gardener. The Gus
tcmary method of combating the
weeds is to chankol the entire PLAN
tation once a month. In SO large a
plantation as that OF the United
States Rubber Company, with it's
seventy square miles of trees, this is
heavy expense item. Some sue
cessful experiments have been tried
with mimosa, a grounds creepeF that
covers the surface with a thick mat
and chokes out the weeds.
To combat the natural disinclina-
tion Of the natives Of the tropics to
perform manual labor, practically all
work on the plantation is task work" +"
Each worker starts off each morning
with a certain amount of work to be
done, and as soon as he has finished
he is through for the day. A chankoler