Tapping Rubber in Ceylon
Tapping Rubber in Ceylon early 1900 #IMG342


Rubber tapping is the process by which rubber is gathered. An incision is made in the bark of a rubber tree, which cuts through the latex vessels that flow between the bark and the cambium. The latex then drips into a vessel.

« Back | ^ | Next »

Each night a rubber tapper must remove a thin layer of bark along a downward half spiral on the tree trunk. If done carefully and with skill, this tapping panel will yield latex for up to 5 years. Then the opposite side will be tapped allowing this side to heal over. The spiral allows the latex to run down to a collecting cup. The work is done at night or in the early morning before the day’s temperature rises, so the latex will drip longer before coagulating and sealing the cut. [Wikipedia]

One thought on “Tapping Rubber in Ceylon early 1900s”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *