PARA-RUBBER CULTIVATION 6n 



when managers of estates can content themselves with any 

 rule-of-thumb methods. Eastern planters seem fortunately 

 well alive to this, and now recognise the value of true scientific 

 help. A manager of a well-known estate has recently put in 

 print some admirable " Conclusions " on rubber cultivation. 

 One of these reads : " That text-books on rubber-planting should 

 only be regarded as historical works "—a maxim, I venture to 

 say, of wider application. 



Everything connected with this novel cultivation is still 

 largely in the experimental stage. It is a pleasing sign to 

 see directors of companies deliberating upon the advisability 

 of employing scientific experts on their estates. Considering 

 that such enormous profits are now being made by the older 

 companies, a small fraction of their receipts might well be 

 spent in this way. Planters should not be content with the 

 scientific assistance rendered by the Government alone. A 

 superintendent of an estate has not the time at his disposal, nor 

 probably the necessary training, for carrying out laboratory 

 experiments, or for keeping a sharp look-out for the initial 

 stages of disease — a vital point. Joint experts for several 

 neighbouring estates might well be employed. Money so 

 spent upon plant sanitation should be regarded in the light 

 of insurance. 



It is also gratifying to note that this new tropical industry is 

 almost wholly of British origin. The seeds were collected in 

 Brazil and transhipped by an Englishman. Kew raised the 

 young plants and sent them to the Middle East. The Botanic 

 Garden Departments there took charge of the trees and made 

 the first tests upon them, bringing their cultivation to the 

 notice of the planting community. The planters, once realising 

 the possibilities of this new undertaking, took it up with their 

 characteristic energy and daring and have already brought it 

 to a surprisingly successful issue with bright prospects opening 

 ahead. Thus as a nation we have taken the lead in this new 

 cultivation. May we not lose our hold upon it through paying 

 too much heed to immediate gains, and too little thought 

 to the more distant future ! 



The subject has further an Imperial aspect. The foundations 

 have now been truly laid for making the British Empire before 

 long self-supporting in regard to this valuable raw material. 



