THE 



GARDENS' BULLETIN, ^... 



Mew YO>« 



STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. , uMcuer 



Vol. 1. Issued dune 22, 1915. No. 5. 



THE TREATMENT TO WHICH THE PARA- 

 RUBBER TREES OF THE BOTANIC 

 GARDENS, SINGAPORE, HAVE 

 BEEN SUBJECTED. 



An attempt is being made in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, to 

 mark down among the old trees the best that they may serve 

 as parents for improved stock. The work of selection will cover 

 many years, and be in some degree tedious ; but there is every rea- 

 son to expect that it will prove worth all the tim^e that may be ab- 

 sorbed. Hevea brasilietisis, the Para-rubber tree, in Malaya, shows 

 much variability, and therefore a promise that the general average 

 of the trees can be raised ; and moreover not only do we observe . 

 this variability here with our own e5^es ; but we have the assurance of 

 Monsieur Labroy and others that in Brazil great variability can be 

 seen. The work in hand commences with the comparison of tree 

 with tree as judged by the amount of latex given. Were our trees all 

 virgin, this comparison would be facilitated; but they have been 

 subjected to treatment in various ways ; and though we do not know 

 as yet, what the effect of tapping is on the life and functions of a 

 rubber-tree, it becomes necessary that in the task before us the past 

 of the selected parents should be known. With this object in view 

 the following record has been compiled from all available sources. ■ 



One tree in the Gardens, No. 2/, in the year 1904, was recognised 



\fy as yielding a far greater amount of latex than any of its neighbours, 

 even than those which seemed to have a position quite as advanta- 

 geous. But it has never been used as a special seed bearer. It and 



—' other good trees are now being picked out as parents for the next 



^ g^neratio''. 



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