158 



a new idea, since it seems to have been the regular practice of the 

 rubber gatherers of Brazil ; but their idea that the tree gave more 

 milk after it had become accustomed to the operation seemed so 

 childishly fanciful to Europeans that it has only recently been put 

 to a practical test, and now there is much surprise to find that it 

 is very decidedly correct. Perhaps the most striking instance is 

 that described very recently from Selangor, where a single Para 

 rubber tree, 25 years old, yielded 18 pounds of rubber in a period 

 of two months.* A single ounce was obtained the first day, and 

 l^ pounds in the next five days. For 10 days the daily average 

 was more than half a pound, and on the twelfth day a maximum 

 of 12 ounces was obtained. A second tree yielded a total of 12 

 pounds 10 ounces of rubber. It was estimated that about seventy 

 hours of labour was required to collect about 30 pounds of rubber 

 from the two trees, orover two hours for each pound of rubber, which 

 may be noted as an indication that the collection of rubber by 

 this method will be expensive in proportion as it is carefully done, 

 since it will require intelligent and somewhat skilful cutting to 

 avoid too serious injury to the trees. 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Extracts from Minutes. 



The usual monthly meeting of the Board of Agriculture was held 

 at Headquarter House on 1 6th May 1 905, the following members 

 being present : the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Chairman, the 

 Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, the Agricultural Che- 

 mist, the Hon. Thos. Capper, Hon. Thos. H. Sharp, Mr. C. A. T. 

 Fursdon, and Mr. W. Harris, Acting Secretary. Mr. Geo. D. Murray 

 telegraphed that owing to heavy rains he was unable to attend. 



Appointment of Member— A letter from the Colonial Secretary was 

 read intimating that the Governor had appointed Mr. Thos. H. Sharp 

 to act as a member of the Board during leave of absence granted 

 from the 1st May to His Grace the Archbishop of the West Indies. 



Crops for rotation with Cotton — The Chairman mentioned that as 

 this subject was of considerable importance, and in order to 

 save time he had decided to publish the correspondence in the 

 Bulletin and he now asked for the concurrence of the Board. 

 This was approved. 



Applications to attend Distillers' Course at the Laboratory— Twenty 

 applications were received and considered, and ten were selected. 



Arrangements as to admission of boys from Secondary Schools to 

 Agricultural Lectures at the Laboratory — The Board decided that 

 boys from Secondary Schools who may be selected to attend the 

 lectures in Agricultural Science at the Laboratory, such lectures 

 to occupy twelve hours per week, should pay a fee of 30/ per term. 



School Gardens— The Director of Public Gardens submitted two 

 reports by Mr. Cradwick on School Gardens, (a) at Titchfield, and 

 (b) on School Gardens generally and points to be observed by 

 Teachers. 



*A<^ricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay States, I., 556, November, 1902. 



