Vol. V. No. 111. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



239 



The advocates of the latter system claim that the cost 

 of weeding is thereby reduced and that a greater yield of 

 rubber is obtained per acre in the first year's tapping. The 

 objections to this system are that the trees left after the 

 thinning, are likely to be inferior in size and rubber-yielding 

 qualities as compared with others of a similar age, but which 

 had been planted at 20 by 20 feet, and as the result, would 

 Lave developed more rapidly and perfectly, and also be likely 

 to yield more rubber per tree in the first few years of tapping 

 than would be obtained from those left after thinning a close- 

 planted plantation. 



The question as to which system would eventually be 

 the more remunerative can only be settled satisfactorily by 

 carefully conducted experiments. _ _ .: 



The best results will, no doubt, be obtained where it is 

 possible to cultivate annual catch crops between the trees, 

 planted at the wider distance. This is the plan recom- 

 mended. 



RAISING PLANTS. 



The Castilloa trees in St. Lucia produce seeds between 

 April and .June. Tf large quantities of seed are required, it 

 is necessary to gather the red-coloured fruits from the 

 branches as soon as ripe, as birds will, unless prevented, 

 •carry away a great many, and only a portion of the crop 

 will be obtained if only the seeds which fall to the ground 

 are gathered. The seeds do not long retain their vitality, 

 and on this account it is advisable to sow them when 

 freshly gathered. Should it be desirable to keep them for a few 

 days, ' they may, after being removed from the pulp of the 

 fruit, be washed and dried quickly in the shade, be mixed 

 with some nearly dry soil or slightly damp powdered 

 charcoal, and stored in a dry place. 



The seeds when fresh take about sixteen days to 

 germinate ; they should be sown at least 2 inches apart and 

 i inch deep in well-drained nursery beds of fine rich soil or 

 fn boxes. If the plants are to remain more than a few weeks 

 in the boxes or beds, the seeds should be sown farther apart. 

 The seed boxes or beds must be suitably shaded from the 

 sun and the soil kept moist but not wet. As the seedlings 

 get to be a few inches high, the shade should be gradually 

 lessened but not entirely removed. In this way the plants 

 ■will be gradually hardened for the more exposed situations 

 in the field. 



The plants may, when about 1 foot high, be planted 

 out in the fields ; but stronger ones will be obtained by 

 transplanting the smaller seedlings into bamboo pots and 

 growing them in the nursery until about 2 feet high. 



SUPPLY OF PLANTS. 



Large numbers of plants are being raised at the Botanic 

 Station at St. Lucia for distribution, and persons desiring 

 to secure plants should apply to the Agricultural Superin- 

 tendent without delay, particularly if large numbers are 

 required, as only a small surplus stock can be maintained. 

 Plants of Castilloa elastica are sold at the Botanic Station, 

 in boxes of about fifty, at 9d. per box ; or 3s. per 100 plants 

 in bamboo pots. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH RUBBER-YIELDING PLANTS. 



For further information respecting rubber-yielding plants 

 and their cultivation, also the results of recent tapping 

 experiments carried out at the Botanic Station at St. Lucia 

 and in other parts of the West Indies, the attention of 

 readers is directed to the publications of the Imperial Depart- 

 -of Agriculture, particularly the West Indian Bulletin, 

 <Vol. VII, pp. 16-29). 



RUBBER CULTIVATION IN SAMOA. 



The Consular Report on Samoa for 190-5 contains 

 the following account of the efforts that are bein? made 

 to extend the cultivation of rubber ti'ees in that 

 country : — 



The Samoa Caoutchouc Company, Berlin, capital 

 £75,000 and upwards, has commenced operations on a large 

 tract of ground at Saluafata, 12 miles from Apia, and has 

 planted out many thousand seeds of Hevea. Rubber cultiva- 

 tion being an entirely new thing in Samoa, it is impossible 

 to make a positive and certain forecast regarding it, but 

 in the opinion of some it offers greater advantages than 

 cacao or cocoa-nut planting. That Castilloa will grow here is 

 quite certain ; but until tapping has begun and the yield can 

 be approximately ascertained, it is impossible to say whether 

 this or any other rubber tree will yield sap to the same 

 extent as is the case in their natural habitat ; but, as 

 conjectured above, this culture appears to be likely to yield, 

 in any case, a profitable return on the capital invested. 



Mr. T. Andrew, photographer and planter, is obliging 

 enough to furnish the following : — 



'In 1904 I supplied your yearly report with a few 

 remarks on the cultivation of Hevea hrasiliensis in Samoa. 

 Since then the trees have grown rapidly ; not so much in 

 height as in girth — they are just six years old from the seed. 



' Measuring twenty-five consecutive trees at 3 feet from 

 the ground, the largest tree measured 24i^ inches in circum- 

 ference ; the average of the whole was 17i- inches. 



' Considering the fact that these trees have been entirely 

 under native supervision, with the exception of occasional 

 visits of the owners, it may reasonably be expected that, on 

 plantations laid out by companies and under proper super- 

 vision, the trees will present a more promising appearance 

 than do the above under the conditions stated. 



' The measurements are by no means insignificant when 

 compared with those made at the experimental gardens of 

 the different districts of the zone of rubber culture. 



' The trees in question are planted 15 by 15 feet among 

 cacao tree.s, at an altitude of 1,100 feet abo've the sea. 

 The aspect is favourable, and the distribution of rain is more 

 even than on the low-lying lands which have the same aspect. 



' Some of the trees are being tapped, and the result of 

 yield and quality of the rubber will be looked forward to 

 with interest by those engaged in the culture, and by others 

 who are waiting for proofs of the results of the experiments. 



' The high prices prevailing for first-class articles, and 

 the apparently permanent demand for rubber, have givea 

 a considerable impetus to rubber cultivation in Samoa. 



' Other companies under able management have com- 

 menced operations here. Notably the Berlin Caoutchouc 

 Company at Saluafata, near Falefa, with an area of 6,000 to 

 7,000 acres. Their first clearing of 500 acres is now ready 

 for planting out, and they have about 1,000,000 young Hevea 

 plants growing in the nurseries. The situation of this 

 estate is ideal : a gradual ascent from the sea, with a maximum 

 height of, say, 600 feet above it ; the rainfall is evenly 

 distributed throughout the year. The soil is splendid, contain- 

 ing sufiicient clayey mixture to retain moisture in the event 

 of prolonged dry weather. The whole is almost encircled by 

 a high range of mountains 1,500 to 2,500 feet in height. 



' Next comes Mr. Harman's (Birmingham) Upola rubber 

 plantation. As yet there are no details respecting the 

 operations of this company ; but, judging from the rapid 

 progress made by the Upola Cacao Company, which is under 

 the same management, a promising prospect may safely be 

 predicted.' 



