Rubber tapping facts for kids
Rubber tapping is how we collect a milky liquid called latex from rubber trees. This liquid is used to make many things, like tires and gloves. To get the latex, workers carefully make a cut in the tree's bark. They use a special hooked knife to slice a thin groove, about a quarter of an inch deep.
The bark is then gently peeled back. Only trees that are about six years old and at least six inches wide can be tapped for latex. This method of collecting latex does not harm the tree. It allows the tree to keep growing and producing latex for many years.
How Rubber Tapping Works
Each night, a rubber tapper makes a new, thin cut in the tree's bark. This cut goes in a half-spiral shape down the tree trunk. If done carefully, this cut will release latex for up to five hours. After a while, the tappers will use the other side of the tree. This gives the first side time to heal.
The spiral cut helps the latex flow down into a small collecting cup. Tapping is usually done at night or early in the morning. This is because the cooler temperatures help the latex drip longer. If it gets too warm, the latex might thicken and stop flowing too quickly.
Sometimes, special chemicals are added to the collecting cup. These chemicals help keep the latex liquid for a longer time. For example, ammonia solution stops the latex from becoming solid too soon. In some places, like Malaysia, plastic bags with a special liquid are used instead of cups. This helps make different types of rubber products.
Latex that dries naturally in the cup is called "cup lump." This solid latex is then processed into different kinds of rubber blocks. These blocks are used to make many items we use every day.
Tapping Older Trees
When rubber trees get very old, they are sometimes tapped more often. This is done in their last few years before they are cut down. This "intensive tapping" aims to collect as much latex as possible. It might involve making more frequent cuts or using special tools to get more latex.
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Tapping knives
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Rubber tapping in Malaya, circa 1910
Rubber Trees and the Environment
Rubber tapping is good for the forest because it does not require cutting down the trees. This means the forest can stay healthy. Some rubber farms, called "jungle rubber," look a lot like natural forests. They have many different kinds of plants and animals.
These jungle rubber areas can have almost as many tree species as a natural forest. They also support many types of birds. This is much better for nature than farms that grow only one type of plant. Rubber tree farms, even those with only rubber trees, are often better for the environment than farms for crops like coffee or oil palm.
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