It is evident that seeds which are tj be exported are best selected 

 from untapped trees. 



Experiments are to be conducted to compare the growth of 

 pkints resulting from seeds of ^apped and untapped trees. 



Table I. 



Percentage of Seed Germination obtained from Tapped and 

 Untapped Trees. 



Experiment II. 



The Preserving of Rubber Seeds from Tapped Trees. 



The seeds in these experiments were collected and packed in a 

 similar way to those in the first experiment but they were coated 

 respectively with bees wax, hard paraffin, and vaseline. The bees 

 wax and hard paraffin were melted and the seeds dipped into their 

 respective liquids, allowed to solidify and then packed. Previous to 

 planting the seeds, the hard paraffin, bees wax, and vaseline were 

 removed. 



The percentage of germination of untreated seeds from tapped 

 trees can be seen by referring to experiment I. On comparing 

 this with the seeds coated with bees wax it will be seen that 

 the latter showed an increased germination to the extent of ap- 

 proximately 30 per cent. The seeds coated with (hard paraffin gave 

 better results than untreated seeds from tapped trees but not as good 

 as those coated with bees wax. 



The seeds treated with vaseline did not germinate. The coating 

 of rubber seeds with any substance is undoubtedly an expensive 

 treatment but if seeds have to be sent to countries which take from 

 l^i to 2>2 months to reach and seeds from untapped trees cannot 

 be obtained, then, I think that the extra percentage of germination 

 resulting from seeds being coaled with bees wax would more than 

 repay the extra expense entailed by this system of treatment. 



