PLANTATION RUBBER INDUSTRY OF THE EAST. 437 



George King,i the chief authority on Ficus. In more recent 

 times, Vernet, of Annam, has recorded ^ that reproduction by 

 cuttings is easy, with proper precautions, and that he has 

 obtained excellent results by that method, while other methods 

 of vegetative reproduction have been equally successful in 

 India, Java, Annam, and Tonkin. In temperate countries 

 the propagation of Ficus elastica is an operation which is 

 successfully performed by the humblest nurseryman, as is 

 evidenced by the price at which it is possible to supply the 

 innumerable plants which adorn the front windows of suburban 

 residences. 



Additional evidence of the possibility of estabhshing planta- 

 tions of Ficus elastica is afforded by the experience of Java and 

 Sumatra, where several thousands of acres have been placed 

 under this product. Indeed, the oldest rubber plantation in 

 the East is one of Ficus elastica in Java, which dates from 1864.^ 

 Particulars of this plantation have been pubhshed in several 

 journals.* The plants were obtained from the neighbouring 

 forests, by cuttings or by marcottage. 



If further evidence be required, the experience of the 

 Federated Malay States may be quoted. At the beginning of 

 rubber planting in that countrj^, many favoured Ficus elastica 

 in preference to Hevea hrasiliensis, and several estates imder- 

 took its cultivation. In the Annual Report of th:' Selangor 

 Planters' Association for 1899,^ it was stated that " up to last 

 year it was difficult to get plants or cuttings, which found a 

 ready sale at from fifteen to twenty-five cents each, but each 

 plant put out for the last three years has been yielding thirty- 

 fold, and there are now thousands of rooted plants available at 



from four to five cents each There should be about 



500,000 plants available for next year." In the report for 

 1900,^ 52,147 Ficus were said to have been planted, while in 

 1901 the area under Ficus was given as 700 acres.' 



1 Report of tlie Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, 1873-74. 



2 Vernet, Etude Generale sur le Ficus elastica. 



3 Collet, O., Bull. No. 7 de la Societe d'Etudes Coloniales. ^^ 



* " Tropical Agriculturist," XX., p. 7(51 ; " Indian Forester," XXI V^ , 

 p. 160. 



» "Tropical Agriculturist," XIX., p. 672. 

 6 Op. cit., XX., p. 819. 

 ' Op. cit., XXI., p. 739. 



