PLANTATION RUBBER INDUSTRY OF THE EAST. 473 



rubber. " As a valuable forest product, Para rubber may be 

 confidently reckoned upon as a steady source of future revenue, 

 and I strongly recommend that large plantations of it be 

 formed in suitable places and under competent supervision in 

 the low-country of the Western and Southern Provinces." 



In 1889 the Forest Department was finally estabhshed. 

 Towards the end of the year Trimen approached the wow 

 Department on the question of Hevea, but found it un\^•iIling 

 to undertake the cultivation. The opposition Avas however 

 overcome, and in the Forest report for that year it was stated 

 that " by desire of Government, this Department will under- 

 take before the commencement of the south-west monsoon of 

 1890, a plantation of Para rubber from seed supplied by the 

 Royal Botanic Garden, Henaratgoda. The place selected 

 for the plantation is near Nambapana in Sabaragamuwa, where 

 the climate is considered by Dr. Trimen to be suitable." 



Though there had been some reluctance on the part of the 

 Forest Department to plant Hevea, Mr. F„ Lewis, the Officer 

 in charge of the district in which the plantation was situated, 

 supported the project so enthusiastically that its success was 

 assured, at least from the chief point of view, that of a seed 

 reserve. In 1890 15 acres were planted at Edangoda, on land 

 which was, in part, flooded during the wet season ; basket plants 

 were employed and proved unsuitable for the low-lying parts of 

 the plantation, all those subjected to submersion being killed. 

 The remaining plants, 1,872 in number, made good growth. 



In 1891 another acre was added to Edangoda, and a new 

 plantation of 16 acres opened at Yatipawa in the same district. 

 In 1892-3 5 acres were added to Edangoda, and a further 21 

 acres to Yatipawa. In 1894 no further additions were made, 

 as there was no more land considered suitable in the vicinity ; 

 the vacancies at Yatipawa were supplied with plants grown 

 from seed from the Edangoda plantation, some of the trees 

 which were planted in 1891 having fruited in 1893. 



In 189^ 26 acres were opened at Midellana in the Pasdun 

 korale. 3,000 seeds were obtained in that year at Edangoda 

 and sold for Rs. 24 (Rs. 8 per 1,000, Forest Report, 1896). 

 The total area under Hevea at Yatipawa and Edangoda was 

 said to be 58 acres. 



6(4)14 (61) 



