245 



bra:iches of trees partially overlapping, and it is more than likely 

 that any excessive branch development will be kept back by pru- 

 ning or pollarding rather than by reducing the number of trees 

 below 200 to the acre. 



i/o//w^— With regard to the preparation of the holes, Mr. Wright 

 recommends that they should be li x 2x 2 feet. The larger the 

 holes, the better for the plant. Good holing will give the plants 

 an excellent start ; the dribbling in of seeds in small holes is not to 

 be recommended. It is hardly necessary to point out that the 

 planting operations should be carried out when rain is plentiful. 



As a mixed crop — Para rubber is much more likely to be grown 

 as a mixed crop with cocoa, bananas, &c., in Jamaica than as a 

 pure crop, at any rate for some time to come, and the question thus 

 arises as to the proper distance to plant amongst other crops. 

 Cocoa has been found to be the best and most profitable crop to 

 grow with rubber trees for the reason that the trees help each other. 

 The cocoa has a heavy fall ot leaf and thus manures and benefits 

 the rubber, and the rubber acts as a wind-break to the cocoa. 



The successful and continued cuUivation of inter crops with 

 Para rubber mainly depends on the distance the plants are from 

 one another. The rapidly-growing surface roots of Para rubber 

 will ultimately take possession of the soil, and the inter crops of 

 tea, cocoa, or coffee cannot be expected to thrive except the rubber 

 plants are widely planted. The cultivation of tea under closely- 

 planted rubber is more or less of a catch crop ; but several estates 

 are known where the rubber is widely planted amongst tea and 

 both are bearing and doing well. Cocoa and coffee planted in the 

 middle of the lines will last for several years under rubber. The 

 roots of these plants do not as closely ramify the soil as those of 

 the crowded tea plants, though they will ultimately have to face 

 the struggle for existence with the roots of Para rubber and will 

 probably be choked out. Cocoa may be planted 10 to 20 feet 

 apart, and the amount of soil on good cocoa estates which is free 

 from roots is often very large and permits of the growth of other 

 trees on the same acreage. Cocoa under rubber will last much 

 longer than tea, and the protection by the Para rubber trees against 

 excessive exposure is no doubt greatly in favour of the two products 

 being grown together. The planting of both products on the same 

 soil is done in such a way as to allow free root areas for both 

 species during the first five years, many planting the cocoa and 

 rubber both twenty feet apart so that there will be approximately 

 100 rubber and 100 cocoa trees per acre.* Though the rubber 

 ultimately becomes the stronger component, it is surprising how 

 long both products can be successfully grown together. In the 

 cultivation of inter crops with Para rubber it is essential that 

 both products be planted at the same time, as the Para rubber 



* But if it is intended to keep both crops growing permanently, it is suggested that 

 the cocoa and rubber be planted alternately at distances of 15 feet apar , so tliat there 

 will be approximately nearly lOi) cocoa and luO rubber trees to the acre. Editor, Bulletin, 

 of the Bepartiiient oj Agriculture, Jamaica . 



