14 



cause the roots of the plant to grow unnaturally, and the plants 

 are apt to sicken. Experiments this year showed that seeds 

 planted in boxes produced larger plants than those grown in 

 bamboo pots, in about half the time. The seeds from the same 

 tree and the same earth were used in each case. Several of the 

 seedlings grown in the bamboo pots became so sickly and weak 

 that they had to be thrown away. 



The best time for planting out Castilloa would appear to be 

 after the first rain at the end of September or early part of Octo- 

 ber, and during the first and second week in April. 



Castilloa seed is of such a perishable and soft nature, and the 

 seedlings are so delicate, that it requires a good deal of skill and 

 attention to preserve them in a healthy state ready for planting. 



This perishable seed, produced in July and August, cannot be 

 successfully grown to a sufficient size to plant out in the field by 

 the end of September. A few of the earlier bearings will do so, 

 but the bulk of the seedlings will not be strong enough in time 

 for planting, and, consequently, will have to be kept back until 

 April. They may become too large for the boxes and will there- 

 fore have to be transferred to beds in a nursery, 



Hevea seed cannot be obtained in this country, and has to be 

 imported. Under favourable conditions, if a planter tests his 

 Hevea seed and finds that it germinates well, it would probably 

 be advisable to put about three seeds directly into the earth 

 where he intends to grow plants permanently. If they all grow 

 the weakest should be removed and transplanted. 



Castilloa should be planted on the group system 20 feet apart 

 three plants being put into each hole so as to ensure an establish- 

 ment of absolute healthy trees. As soon as the plants have taken 

 root, and have grown about 3 feet high, one plant should he re- 

 moved, and at the end of four years the weakest of the remaining 

 two might be so heavily tapped as to bleed it to death. This 

 would give a small return and would ensure the permanent estab- 

 lishment of one healthy tree, and so far from retarding or injuring 

 the tree would help it, as Castilloa appears to succeed very well 

 in group planting provided it is given a fair area between each 



hole. 



Hevea should be planted 20 feet apart, but not in the group 

 system. It naturally grows straight, and therefore differs from 

 Castilloa, which is inclined to throw out lateral branches before 

 it reaches a good height. 



Hevea should do best on alluvial lands, but I see no reason why 

 it should not also thrive on any ordinary land that is sufficiently 

 rich and has a fair rainfall. 



With regard to the Forstcronia floribunda, we have in Jamaica a 

 natural rubber-giving vine that abounds over almost all our lime- 

 stone formations. It is a climber, and can be found plentifully 

 at altitudes from 200 feet to 4,000 feet. 



Hitherto the impression has been that the rubber from this vine 

 was of inferior quality, and the vine could only be found here 



