1()4 



ARBORICULTURE 



plenty of light; heat and moisture com- 

 bined, a close, steamy atmosphere pre- 

 ferred. Drainage is insured by planting 

 on mounds. It does not grow well in 

 swampy ground. 



The tree can be grown from cuttings, 

 but this is not considered a satisfactory 

 method. 



GOOTIES 



Are used to som.e extent. Vigorous 

 young branches 12 to 20 feet long are 

 selected and a ring of bark is removed. 

 The bared wood is covered with wet 

 clay mixed with cow-dung, and this kept 

 in place by gunny cloth; roots are soon 

 emitted, when it is severed from the tree, 

 and planted in the mound of earth. 



SEEDLINGS 



Are grown in nurseries. The figs and 

 the seed contained in bird droppings are 

 collected daily while ripening as they 

 fall to the ground. Those which have 

 passed through the alimentary canal of 

 birds germinate best. 



By mixing the seed with pounded 

 charcoal it may be preserved several 

 months. 



Light movable shades are put up over 

 the seed beds to intercept the rays of the 

 sun and protect from beating rains. 



The seed bed must be kept clear of 

 weeds and watered when necessary. 



PLANTING IN THE FOREST 



Lines are cleared through the forest, 

 all trees and shrubs being cut level 

 with the ground over a width of 20 feet, 

 at intervals of 100 feet, and trees planted 

 on mounds 50 feet apart. 



This has been changed to 66 x 66 feet, 

 or 10 plants per acre. 



Climbing vines, so abundant in hot 

 countries, must be suppressed, and all 

 undergrowths as well. 



RATE OF GROWTH 



Measurements of rubber trees in Chard- 

 nar Plantation as follows: 



AGE 



HEIGHT 



GIRTH OF CHNTRAL BOLE 



22 years 88 feet 6 inches to 12 feet 



19 years 81 feet 9 feet 



14 years 67 feet 5 feet 



13 years 55 feet 4/^ feet 



TAPPING THE TREES 



All undergrowth below the trees is cut 

 level with the ground, and a path cleared. 

 All climbers covering the trees must be 

 cut so that they will die. 



Ever}' tree is numbered to maintain a 

 register of operations. 



The cuts are made with a V shaped 

 gouge l}i inches in greatest breadth. 

 This is held in the left hand and a small 

 wooden mallet in the right. 



The tapper climbs to the highest point 

 intended to tap. He then gouges out 

 the bark, giving horizontal cuts on alter- 

 nate sides, 15 inches apart. 



The latex, or sap, exudes from the 

 surfaces of the cut bark and coagulates 

 in the cuts. When dr}- it is stripped off 

 the tree, when a milky residuum runs 

 from the wound down the tree. Bamboo 

 mats are spread under the trees to catch 

 this overflow. 



The third day after tapping, the latex 

 is dry enough to be pulled from the tree. 

 It is then hand picked and cleaned by 

 women, then dried and packed for export. 

 Trees require one year's rest before 

 being again tapped. 



The yield per acre varies from thirty 

 to sixty pounds, the yield from a single 

 tree, the largest, was eight pounds. 



Persons interested and expecting to 

 invest in rubber plantations will find 

 Mr. Coventry's pamphlet very instruct- 

 ive, and it is probably limited. Numbers 

 of the book may be obtained from the 

 Government of India. 



We again point out to the people of 

 Florida that the Everglades, when 

 drained, will be their most productive 

 and most valuable lands for man}' pur- 

 poses, and the growing of india-rubber 

 trees should receive the attention of 

 statesmen in that Peninsular State. 



The Ficus elastica grows in Mexico 

 upon the high table-lands, 6,000 to 

 7,000 feet elevation, but it is not culti- 

 vated except at much lower altitudes. 

 In all the Central American States, 

 Brazil, Cuba, and generally in tropical 

 regions, it ma}' be cultivated to advan- 

 tage; and unless steps are taken soon to 

 augment the supply of commercial rub- 

 ber, by encouraging its production, man- 

 ufacturers will find it difficult to maintain 

 their factories and business. 



Like many other products of the forest, 

 there is no substitute for india rubber. 



