Most people know the words to Frank Sinatra’s song “High Hopes.” In the song, an ant tries to move a rubber tree plant. That singular mention of a rubber tree plant from our childhood sticks in our memory. While it makes us smile fondly, we never take the time to puzzle out what a rubber tree plant is.
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Rubber is an integral part of our daily lives. This natural substance comes from Hevea brasiliensis trees, which are also called rubber trees. The trees grow well in tropical areas, and although they are native to the Amazon rainforest, most rubber production occurs in Southeast Asia.
When harvesting latex from a tree, the farmer carefully makes cuts in the bark. They need to create an adequate flow of latex without damaging the tree. The farmer begins with a long, shallow vertical cut. From the vertical cut, they angle a cut that curves around the tree. The farmer makes another vertical cut at the bottom of the angle cut, and they place a small metal “tap” into the tree.
The farmer then makes the angled cut deeper until sap begins to flow. Farmers collect the raw product in small bowls placed under the tap. As needed, the farmer makes a new angled cut under the first cut to continue the flow until reaching the end of the first vertical cut.
Rubber farming is relatively easy. Trees must grow for six to seven years before harvesting begins. Latex is the “sap” from the tree, and farmers can tap trees for 20 to 30 years. Each tree will produce from 60 to 150 kilograms (approximately 133 to 331 pounds) of rubber over its lifespan.
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